President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to resign from office, citing health concerns, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter, although no formal resignation letter has yet been submitted.
Several sources said the BNP government has agreed in principle to the move following discussions with the president. They added that Shahabuddin intends to travel to a Southeast Asian island nation after stepping down.
President's Press Secretary Mohammad Sarwar Alam confirmed to a national media outlet that Shahabuddin had expressed his intention to resign and that the government had agreed to the proposal.
The development comes as Speaker of Parliament Hafiz Uddin Ahmad has cut short his visit to Thailand and is returning to Bangladesh earlier than scheduled.
Sources at the Parliament Secretariat said the Speaker had been requested by senior government officials to return as soon as possible to complete the constitutional process required for the president's resignation.
Hafiz travelled to Bangkok on July 19 for medical treatment and was originally scheduled to return on July 26.
However, Parliament Secretariat Director (Public Relations-1) Mohammad Monir Hossain confirmed to Dhaka Tribune on Thursday night that the Speaker will return on Friday.
Constitutional process
Under Article 50 of the Constitution, the president may resign by submitting a written letter to the Speaker of Parliament.
Article 54 states that if the office of the president becomes vacant or the president is unable to perform the duties of the office, the Speaker assumes the role of acting president until a new president is elected.
Hence, if Shahabuddin resigns, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad would become acting president.
The last acting president in Bangladesh was the late Jamir Uddin Sircar, who was speaker of the Eighth Parliament.
He assumed the role of acting president in 2002 after the resignation of former president AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury during the BNP-Jamaat-led four-party alliance government.
Jamir Uddin Sircar served as acting president for 78 days, from June 21 to September 6, 2002
No formal confirmation
According to multiple sources, the president has made a policy-level decision to resign, but the formal submission of his resignation letter is reportedly being delayed because the Speaker of Parliament is currently abroad.
A source close to the president said he recently told several officials in his office: "I may wrap up my time at Bangabhaban within the next couple of days."
Since then, discussions about his possible resignation have become more intense.
A senior Bangabhaban official said: "The president cannot resign immediately because, under the Constitution, the resignation letter must be submitted to the Speaker. Since the Speaker is currently outside the country, that is not possible at the moment."
The official added that the president has already decided to resign, whether for health reasons or mental stress.
On Thursday, Md Nurul Amin, secretary to the president, said: "The president has not yet signed a resignation letter. If he resigns, it will be announced."
As a result, the president's Office has neither confirmed nor directly denied the reports.
Political significance
Multiple BNP sources claim that senior party leaders have conveyed to President Shahabuddin, who was elected during the Awami League government's tenure, that he should step down.
The president’s office added political significance, as the next president's term will cover the period during which Bangladesh's 14th parliamentary election is due to be held by 2031.
Discussions are also reportedly taking place within policymaking circles regarding a possible successor as multiple senior politicians and two bureaucrats' names are in the discussion.
However, the ruling party BNP will select its candidate, and it will be passed, maintaining the constitutional procedure.
Responding to journalists at the Secretariat on Thursday, Salahuddin Ahmed said: "Rumors about the president's resignation remain just rumors. If it actually happens, we will respond accordingly. If the president wishes to step down for health or other reasons, the Constitution provides for that. However, I have no information confirming his resignation."
The home minister also said: “The government has taken no action regarding this matter, nor is it making any official statement. Whether the president wants to resign for health reasons is something that should be asked of him.”
When asked about media reports claiming that President Shahabuddin spoke by telephone with former prime minister Sheikh Hasina while receiving medical treatment in London in May this year, the home minister said he had no knowledge of the matter.
What happens next
Under Article 123 of the Constitution, a new president must be elected by members of parliament within 90 days of the office becoming vacant.
Since the BNP currently holds a majority in Parliament, its nominated candidate would be expected to win the presidential election if the office becomes vacant.
The next president is also expected to serve during Bangladesh's next parliamentary election, making the appointment politically significant as well as constitutionally important.
Following the 2024 mass uprising, several student organizations and leaders of the July movement demanded President Shahabuddin's resignation.
They organized demonstrations, including protests outside Bangabhaban. However, the interim government did not remove him.
Even after the BNP later formed the government, no immediate action was taken.
Mohammed Shahabuddin was sworn in as Bangladesh's 22nd President on 24 April 2023, having been nominated by the Awami League, whose acitivities have been banned.
Under the Constitution, his five-year term is scheduled to end in April 2028.