President Shahabuddin of Bangladesh, aged 76, has stepped down, citing health issues as the reason for his resignation
Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin, previously an ally of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, has resigned due to significant health concerns, according to a statement from his office on Friday.
Shahabuddin, 76, has occupied the predominantly ceremonial role of president since April 2023, a time marked by tumultuous events following Hasina’s departure to India in the wake of a student-led uprising against her administration in 2024.
Recent medical examinations have diagnosed me with a condition known as “autonomic neuropathy.” “Due to this condition, I occasionally experience momentary loss of consciousness,” Shahabuddin stated in a release from his press secretary.
The resignation of Shahabuddin would leave Hasina without any allies in high office just five months before her intended return. Her Awami League party is prohibited, and numerous leaders and activists have either been imprisoned or gone into hiding following a violent student-led uprising that overthrew her government in 2024.
The speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad, the national parliament, will carry out the responsibilities of the president until a new one is elected, according to the statement.
As the head of state, Shahabuddin serves as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces; however, the executive power is held by the prime minister and cabinet in this predominantly Muslim nation of 173 million inhabitants.
Reuters reported on Thursday that Shahabuddin, a former ally of ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, is set to resign on Friday.
