[🇧🇩] Is the President Resigning?

[Saif]

Date of Event: Jul 24, 2026

Source: https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/facebook-post-triggers-presidents-resignation-rumours

Facebook post triggers President’s resignation rumours

Speculation over the possible resignation of Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has spread across social media after a Facebook post suggested he could step down on health grounds within days.

However, as of Wednesday evening, neither Bangabhaban nor the government had issued any official statement confirming such a move, bdnews24.com reports.

Asked about the speculation, a senior government minister and a senior BNP leader separately told bdnews24.com they had no knowledge of any resignation plan.

Another cabinet minister responded to a text message from bdnews24.com with a single-word reply: "Nonsense".

In a Facebook post on Wednesday, UK-based Bangladeshi journalist Zulkarnain Saer wrote Shahabuddin was expected to resign citing health reasons and claimed that Cabinet Secretary Nasimul Ghani, rather than a senior BNP leader, was among the preferred candidates to succeed him​

 

[Saif]

Speaker to return two days ahead of schedule, fueling speculation over President’s resignation

Parliament Secretariat sources say he is set to return from Thailand two days ahead of the scheduled time, intensifying speculation over the possible resignation of President Md Shahabuddin.

en.prothomalo.com

Speaker to return two days ahead of schedule, fueling speculation over President’s resignation
Special Correspondent
Dhaka

Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed File Photo

Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed is set to return home from Thailand tomorrow on Friday afternoon, two days ahead of the scheduled time.

Parliament Secretariat sources say he was initially scheduled to return next Sunday, but the schedule has been moved forward.

The decision has intensified speculation over the possible resignation of President Md Shahabuddin, following reports that he may step down soon. Under Bangladesh's Constitution, the president submits a resignation letter to the Speaker. If the president resigns, the Speaker assumes the president's duties until a new President is elected.

According to Parliament Secretariat sources, Hafiz travelled to Bangkok on 19 July for medical treatment and was scheduled to return on 26 July. The revised schedule was confirmed on Thursday.

In a programme circulated by the BNP for its senior leaders on Thursday evening, the party said the Speaker is expected to arrive in Dhaka at 12:40pm on Friday on a Thai Airways flight from Thailand.

The Constitution states, if the office of the President becomes vacant or if the President is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, illness or any other cause, the Speaker shall discharge those functions until a President is elected or until the President resumes the functions of his office, as the case may be.

It also requires that a new president be elected within 90 days if the office falls vacant due to resignation.

Amid the discussions regarding the President’s resignation, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmad, in response to a question on the matter after a cabinet meeting at the Secretariat this afternoon, said, "Wait until Friday."​

 

[Saif]

President Shahabuddin to tender resignation Friday: Reuters

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin will tender resignation to speaker on Friday.

en.prothomalo.com

President Shahabuddin to tender resignation Friday: Reuters

Prothom Alo English Desk

President Mohammed Shahabuddin File photo

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin will tender resignation to speaker on Friday, according to Reuters.

Three sources informed the development to news agency Reuters on Thursday.

Under Bangladesh's Constitution, the President submits a resignation letter to the Speaker. If the president resigns, the Speaker assumes the President's duties until a new President is elected.

According to Parliament Secretariat sources, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed travelled to Bangkok on 19 July for medical treatment and was scheduled to return on 26 July. The revised schedule was confirmed on Thursday.

In a programme circulated by the BNP for its senior leaders on Thursday evening, the party said the Speaker is expected to arrive in Dhaka at 12:40pm on Friday on a Thai Airways flight from Thailand.

The Constitution states, if the office of the President becomes vacant or if the President is unable to discharge the functions of his office on account of absence, illness or any other cause, the Speaker shall discharge those functions until a President is elected or until the President resumes the functions of his office, as the case may be.​

 

[Saif]

Does former President Shahabuddin enjoy immunity after leaving office?

Md. Sahabuddin has resigned from the position of President before the end of his term. Immediately following his resignation, various political parties, particularly opposition parties, have demanded his arrest and bringing him to justice. In this situation, there is a debate on whether the...

en.prothomalo.com

Does former President Shahabuddin enjoy immunity after leaving office?

 

[Saif]

BNP forum to decide nominee for next president: Fakhrul

Standing committee meeting to finalise party’s choice, says BNP secretary general

www.thedailystar.net

BNP forum to decide nominee for next president: Fakhrul

Standing committee meeting to finalise party’s choice, says BNP secretary general

Our Correspondent, Bogura

Photo: Collected

BNP will decide its nominee for the next president of Bangladesh through the party forum, LGRD Minister and BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir said today.

Fakhrul made the remarks while responding to journalists after attending the inauguration of the 36th Annual Planning Conference at the Rural Development Academy (RDA) in Sherpur, Bogura.

“BNP will hold a meeting on this matter; the standing committee will meet. We haven't even had a meeting yet. The final decision of BNP will be known after the meeting,” he said.

Asked about speculation over his own name as a possible presidential candidate, Fakhrul avoided commenting and said the decision taken by the party forum would be considered final.

Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned as Bangladesh’s president on Friday, citing health reasons, ending days of uncertainty over his position. He submitted his resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad through his representatives, hours after the speaker returned to Dhaka from Thailand.

According to the Constitution, Speaker Hafiz immediately assumed the responsibilities of acting president. The Election Commission must now arrange a presidential election within 90 days, in which members of parliament will elect the next head of state.

Earlier, Fakhrul addressed the annual planning conference of RDA, where he said improving the livelihoods of farmers and modernising agricultural technology were essential for the country’s development.

He said development should not focus only on infrastructure projects like roads, but also on improving the living standards of farmers.

“Marginal farmers are not getting fair prices for their produce despite their hard work. As a result, people are gradually losing interest in agriculture,” he said.

Bogura-5 MP Golam Mohammad Siraj and Bogura-4 MP Md Mosharaf Hossain, who attended the event as special guests, stressed the need for joint efforts to modernise agriculture and ensure fair prices for crops.

The programme was chaired by RDA Acting Director General Dr Abdul Majid and was also addressed by Rural Development and Co-operatives Division Secretary Shawkat Rashid Chowdhury.​

 

[Saif]

An exit that ends uncertainty

President Shahabuddin’s resignation should clear the way for electing someone widely acceptable

www.thedailystar.net

An exit that ends uncertainty

President Shahabuddin’s resignation should clear the way for electing someone widely acceptable

VISUAL: STAR

The resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin, the 22nd president of Bangladesh, has closed yet another chapter in the country’s protracted saga of transition that began with the July uprising, followed by the downfall of Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League, the establishment of the interim government, and finally a fair and mostly participatory election that brought the BNP to power. Despite the controversies surrounding him during this period, it must be acknowledged that Shahabuddin, by and large, has been able to discharge his constitutional duties; whether he did so willingly or not is perhaps a separate argument. As a result, the fact that he has been allowed a dignified exit, despite some pressure for his impeachment, is a relief for many people.

At a time when the country has been grappling with inflation, energy crisis, floods, and a measles outbreak, his resignation avoids an unnecessary political spectacle. It also clears the way for a less time-consuming constitutional process to elect a new president with no attachment to the ousted regime. A government seeking to establish an image of stability is more likely to prefer such an exit, and this is reflected in remarks by BNP high-ups. Referring to Shahabuddin, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, who assumed duties as acting president under the constitution, said: “Although he was elected during the tenure of the mafia government, he has always expressed support and respect for the new government currently elected by the votes of the people.” Meanwhile, Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said Shahabuddin “deserves praise for the important role he played from August 5 to 8, 2024, before the interim government was formed.”

Nevertheless, he did not receive a similar farewell from parties in the opposition alliance. While Jamaat-e-Islami did not spare any positive remarks, it also did not call for Shahabuddin’s arrest, as the NCP did. Of course, under the law of the land, a person can be investigated and brought to justice if there are specific criminal charges or allegations of corruption against him. Holding a former office does not grant anyone special privilege under the law. However, association with a political party, even if it is banned, does not automatically make someone a criminal. That is not justice; it is political retribution. Political parties that emerged from the July uprising are expected to reject such a culture.

Meanwhile, reports suggest that the BNP is already considering nominees for the presidential post. As the Election Commission prepares to announce the schedule for the presidential election, we expect all political parties to extend their support so that MPs can vote freely and uphold the reform aspirations of the uprising. Although the role of a president is largely ceremonial, it remains imperative to elect a figurehead with broad acceptability across the political spectrum. Shahabuddin’s three-plus years in office, which coincided with one of the most turbulent periods in our history, serve as a reminder of why broad political acceptability matters even for a ceremonial head of state.​