Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Friday, July 24, according to local media reports.
Shahabuddin’s resignation triggers the constitutional process for an interim presidency, while National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has called an emergency press briefing on Friday evening, Dhaka Tribune reported.
In accordance with the Constitution of Bangladesh, the speaker shall perform the duties of the president until the office is occupied by a new president.
As per local media reports, Article 54 of Bangladesh’s Constitution mentions that the speaker will perform the duties of the president until a new president is elected in case the office of the president becomes vacant, or if the president is unable to perform the duties of the office due to absence, illness, or any other reason.
“If the office of the president becomes vacant due to death, resignation or removal, a new president must be elected within the next 90 days,” read Article 123(2) of the country’s Constitution.
Mohammed Shahabuddin became the 22nd President of Bangladesh on April 24, 2023 during the Awami League government for a five-year term. Prior to that, he served as a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) from 2011 to 2016.
This means that he was due to remain in office until April 2028. However, he has resigned nearly two years before completing his tenure.
This comes after several political parties in Bangladesh, including the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement, demanded Shahabuddin’s removal after the major political changeover on August 5, 2024.
The issue was subsided when the interim government did not remove him, citing constitutional reasons.
Discussions over Shahabuddin’s removal resurfaced after the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) formed the government following its victory in the elections on February 12.