National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Friday said that if the president resigns, the resignation must be submitted to the speaker, who will then assume the role of acting president.
Speaking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport after returning from Thailand, the speaker said that under the Constitution, he would perform the duties of acting president if the office becomes vacant.
He added that a new president must be elected by parliament within 90 days, in accordance with the Constitution.
Responding to a question, Hafiz Uddin said he returned to Bangladesh because his scheduled medical check-up in Thailand had been completed.
Earlier in the day, the speaker arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:10pm on Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight BG321.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to resign from office, citing health concerns, according to multiple sources familiar with the matter.
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.