Bangladesh President Resigns Over Health Concerns

(President Mohammed Shahabuddin. Photo by Punch News)

According to a letter seen by AFP, Bangladesh’s president, a close friend of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, resigned from the largely ceremonial position on Friday due to illness.

In a teleconference with AFP, President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced his resignation.

When questioned about the rumors that he intended to resign before serving out his entire term, which ends in 2028, Shahabuddin responded, “Yes, I have resigned.”

He didn’t give any more information.

In a resignation letter to the speaker of parliament, seen by AFP, Shahabuddin cited deteriorating health as the reason for his departure.

Stating that worsening physical and mental incapacity had made it impossible for him to properly discharge the responsibilities of an important constitutional office such as the presidency.

The 76-year-old, widely known as “Chuppu”, was elected by parliament in 2023 with the backing of Hasina’s Awami League.

When a student revolt ousted the autocratic Hasina in 2024, calls mounted for the president to be removed as well.

Shahabuddin had also been accused of speaking to Hasina by phone while undergoing medical treatment in London in May, an allegation he has denied.

Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed of the governing Bangladesh Nationalist Party said on Thursday that the government was not aware of the president having submitted his resignation, noting that if he wished to resign, he would need to formally submit his letter to the speaker in accordance with the constitution.