Wild speculations come true as Mohammed Shahabuddin stands down as President ostensibly to end an odd position in the highest seat of Bangladesh since the fall of Awami League government in an uprising.
In tendering his resignation on Friday, he cited serious health complications that he said left him physically and mentally unable to discharge the duties of the country's highest constitutional office.
In a statement issued by Bangabhaban on the day, the president announced that he had submitted his resignation letter to the speaker of parliament, Major (Retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram.
"The President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, Mohammed Shahabuddin, today submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad due owing to serious health reasons," reads the statement from the president house.
In his signed resignation letter, addressed to the speaker, Shahabuddin said he had been suffering from multiple chronic illnesses, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes and kidney complications.
He noted that he had previously undergone bypass surgery and had recently been diagnosed with autonomic neuropathy, a condition that causes him to lose consciousness intermittently.
"Because of these illnesses, and the resulting physical and mental incapacity, I am no longer able to perform the responsibilities of the important constitutional office of the President," he has written. "I require long-term medical treatment."
Invoking Article 50(3) of Bangladesh's constitution, Shahabuddin formally relinquished office.
Under Article 54 of the constitution, the speaker of parliament will assume the responsibilities of acting president until a new head of state is elected and takes office.
Later, in an emergency press briefing at the Jatiya Sangsad complex at 5:00pm following receipt of the resignation, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed said he received the resignation letter of the President at 5:01pm.
He informed that as per constitution he would be acting president of the country in the interregnum until the election of the next President.
The Speaker praised the outgoing President and wished him wellbeing.
He urged the media not to create any confusion over the resignation of the President, 'who made it clear that he had resigned on health grounds'.
The constitution provides that the office of president may be vacated through a signed letter addressed to the speaker. It also states that if the presidency falls vacant through resignation, death or removal, or if the president is unable to perform the duties of the office because of illness or any other reason, "the speaker shall discharge those responsibilities until a successor is elected".
Article 123(2) requires parliament to elect a new president within 90 days of the office falling vacant. Under Article 48(1), the president is elected by Members of Parliament.
In his resignation letter Shahabuddin has claimed that due to his 'firm and positive role, no constitutional crisis took place in the country'.
He also mentions that when constitutional crisis emerged in the country after the fall of the Hasina government, he formed the interim government after taking consultation with the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. The interim government held national elections in February 2026 through which BNP has come to power.
With the ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) commanding a parliamentary majority, its nominee is widely expected to become country's next president. Senior BNP leaders have reportedly been discussing possible candidates for several days, although the party has yet to announce its choice.
Shahabuddin assumed office as Bangladesh's 22nd president on April 24, 2023 during the Awami League administration, with a five-year term due to expire in April 2028. His resignation comes nearly two years before the end.
His future had remained subject of political debates since the student-led July uprising of 2024 which brought an end to the government of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina. Questions as to whether Shahabuddin, who had been elected during the Awami League's tenure, should continue in office intensified after the BNP returned to power following the 13th general election.
His exit marks the first change in Bangladesh's presidency since the change of government and opens the way for parliament to elect a new head of state within the constitutional timeframe.
Earlier, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed returned to Dhaka from Bangkok on Friday cutting short a medical visit that had begun on July 19. He had originally been scheduled to return Sunday.
Speaking to reporters at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport before the resignation was announced, the speaker said he had no knowledge of any decision by the president to step down while he was abroad.
He added that, under the constitution, any resignation would have to be submitted to him and that he would assume the responsibilities of acting president until parliament elected a successor within 90 days.
Speculations over Shahabuddin's resignation had intensified in recent days. Reports recently emerged in the media claiming that President Mohammed Shahabuddin had spoken by telephone to unseated former prime minister Sheikh Hasina while he was in London for medical treatment in May. Hasina has been living in India since being ousted from power during the July uprising.
The reports triggered renewed speculations over the president's future, with calls for his resignation gaining momentum.
Amid days of mounting political discussions, home affairs minister Salahuddin Ahmed was asked about the possibility of the president stepping down after a meeting at the Secretariat on Wednesday. He declined to comment directly, telling reporters to "wait until Friday".
Responding to questions about the media reports alleging that the president had spoken to Sheikh Hasina by phone during her stay in London, the minister said the government had no information regarding the phoning.
People familiar with the matter said the president had become mentally prepared to quit and informed senior officials at Bangabhaban during a meeting on Wednesday that he was preparing to leave office.
Meanwhile, Deputy Speaker Kaiser Kamal assumed the responsibilities of Speaker.
mirmostafiz@yahoo.com