Bangladesh’s President Faces Resignation After Hasina Announces Return

Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin is expected to submit his resignation on Friday, his spokesperson confirmed.

According to the President’s Press Secretary, Shahabuddin will hand his signed resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament once the Speaker returns from an official visit to Thailand. Under Bangladesh’s Constitution, the resignation becomes effective immediately upon submission, and the Speaker will serve as Acting President until a new head of state is elected.

While no official reason for the resignation has been provided, several sources familiar with the matter told Reuters that Shahabuddin had come under increasing pressure because of his long-standing political ties with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, following her announcement that she intends to return to Bangladesh later this year and surrender after her conviction.

In a recent interview with Reuters, Hasina said she plans to return from exile around December. She was previously sentenced to death in absentia by Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal over allegations linked to the 2024 crackdown on student-led protests. Hasina has denied all allegations.

Shahabuddin was elected unopposed in 2023 as the nominee of Hasina’s Awami League, which has since been banned following the 2024 political upheaval.

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s office has not yet issued an official response to the reports.

Political analysts say Shahabuddin’s resignation would remove the last senior state official closely associated with the previous Awami League administration, potentially marking another major shift in Bangladesh’s post-2024 political transition.