Bangladesh president resigns as Hasina prepares exile return
Bangladesh's president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, will resign on Friday, roughly halfway through his term, his spokesman said. Shahabuddin, once seen as an ally of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, holds a largely ceremonial post, and his spokesman cited illness as the reason he can no longer carry out his duties. The resignation comes as Hasina has said she plans to return from exile in December to surrender following a court conviction.
Bangladesh's president, Mohammed Shahabuddin, will resign on Friday, roughly halfway through his term, his spokesman said. Shahabuddin, once seen as an ally of ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina, holds a post that is largely ceremonial under the constitution, and his early departure leaves that office to be filled well before his term was due to end in 2028.
His spokesman cited health problems, saying illness has made it impossible for the president to continue carrying out his duties. No successor has yet been named, and the process for choosing one has not been detailed publicly.
The resignation comes as Hasina has said she plans to return in December to surrender following a court conviction, a move that would leave her without her erstwhile ally in the presidency. Her ties to Shahabuddin had already been strained since her removal from power, and his exit narrows her remaining base of institutional support ahead of her expected return.
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