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Shahabuddin said he resigned after being diagnosed with Autonomic Neuropathy that has significantly deteriorated his health and left him unable to continue performing his duties.
Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin. (Reuters)
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from office, citing deteriorating health and his inability to continue discharging the responsibilities of the country’s highest constitutional office.
In his resignation letter addressed to the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (Parliament), Shahabuddin said he had taken the oath as Bangladesh’s 22nd President on 24 April 2023 and had carried out his duties with sincerity, honesty and in accordance with the Constitution.
Recalling the political developments following the August 2024 mass uprising, the Bangladeshi President said he had performed his constitutional responsibilities during the transition period and played his role in ensuring the formation of the interim government. He also referred to consultations with political parties and civil society during the process.
Shahabuddin said his health had worsened significantly in recent months. He wrote that he has been suffering from Autonomic Neuropathy, a neurological disorder that has severely affected his physical condition.
A former judge and a veteran of Bangladesh’s 1971 Liberation War, Shahabuddin became the country’s President in April 2023. The International Crimes Tribunal-Bangladesh (ICT-BD), which later convicted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was established by her government in 2010 to prosecute those accused of collaborating with Pakistani forces during the Liberation War. Following Hasina’s ouster, the interim government led by Muhammad Yunus amended the tribunal’s legislation, expanding its powers to prosecute former Awami League leaders and government officials on charges of crimes against humanity.
Meanwhile, The Daily Star, quoting a senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) leader, reported that the alleged telephone conversation between Shahabuddin and Hasina was not the sole reason behind the President’s anticipated resignation. According to the leader, the political environment had become increasingly sensitive, particularly after Hasina announced her intention to return to Bangladesh in December.
Earlier this month, Hasina said she planned to return to the country before the end of the year. In response, the Bangladesh government said it would welcome her return but reiterated that she would have to face legal proceedings upon her arrival.
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