President Mohammed Shahabuddin has stated in his resignation letter that no constitutional disaster occurred in the country during the tenure of interim government due to his “firm and positive role.”
He sent the resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Friday. In the letter, he highlighted his role during the period of the interim government in addition to his physical illness.
Speaker confirmed the president’s resignation at an emergency press conference on Friday afternoon.
Shahabuddin wrote, “Since being elected as the 22nd president of the country on 24 April 2023, I have performed my duties with sincerity, honesty, and full loyalty to the Constitution until now.”
He added that a constitutional and administrative crisis arose in the country following the fall of the then government in the face of the student-people’s mass uprising on 5 August 2024.
Subsequently, with the intention of overcoming the constitutional crisis, he sought the opinion of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh as president, under the powers of Article 106 of the Constitution.
The interim government was then formed following the advice of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division.
Highlighting the organisation of the national parliamentary election by the interim government in consultation with political parties, he wrote, “The current government was formed based on the election results and is now governing.
“Currently, the ruling and opposition parties are performing their respective duties in the National Parliament through democratic practice. No constitutional disaster occurred in the country because of my firm and positive role.”
‘I am seriously ill’
The president cited illness as the reason for his resignation. He stated that he is seriously ill.
Mentioning that he suffers from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney complications, Shahabuddin wrote, “I have had bypass surgery on my heart. Recently, a disease called Autonomic Neuropathy was identified during a health check-up”.
Stating that he sometimes becomes temporarily unconscious due to this disease, he further wrote that it is not possible for him to perform the duties of an important constitutional post like the president due to physical and mental incapacity caused by the outbreak of the disease.
“I need long-term treatment,” he wrote.
Shahabuddin also wrote about resigning in accordance with the provisions of Article 50(3) of the Constitution.
Article 50 of the Constitution relates to the term of the office of the president.
According to this provision, the president shall hold office for a term of five years from the date on which he enters upon his office. Despite the expiry of the term, he shall continue to hold office until his successor takes charge.
Furthermore, no person shall hold the office for more than two terms. He can resign by a letter under his hand addressed to the Speaker.
