President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from his post, citing illness as the reason for his departure. He stepped down in accordance with the provisions of Article 50(3) of the Constitution.
The resignation letter issued by the President’s Office noted that Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd president of Bangladesh on 24 April 2023. It added that since his appointment, he had performed his duties with “sincerity, honesty, and full loyalty to Constitution.”
Shahabuddin mentioned that a constitutional and administrative crisis emerged following the fall of the previous government on 5 August 2024, in the face of a student-led mass uprising.
To resolve the crisis, he sought the opinion of the Appellate Division under the powers granted by Article 106 of Constitution. Subsequently, an interim government was formed following the advice of the Appellate Division.
According to the letter, the interim government organised a general election for Parliament after consultations with political parties.
The current government was established based on those election results, with both the government and the opposition now carrying out their respective duties in the Parliament. Shahabuddin mentioned in his resignation that no constitutional disaster occurred in the country due to his “firm and positive role.”
Regarding his medical condition, Shahabuddin cited physical and mental incapacity as the reason for his resignation. He disclosed that he suffers from heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, and kidney complications, and has previously undergone bypass surgery.
Recent medical tests identified autonomic neuropathy, a condition which he noted causes him to occasionally lose consciousness for brief periods.
Shahabuddin concluded that it is no longer possible for him to fulfill the responsibilities of such a significant constitutional office due to the prevalence of these diseases, stating that he requires long-term medical treatment.
