Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin is likely to resign soon, nearly two years before the end of his term, according to political sources and media reports emerging from the country. The development comes amid speculation that the current government led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman is increasingly uncomfortable with Shahabuddin continuing in the presidential post.
Shahabuddin was elected as Bangladesh’s president by the previous parliament and is currently the only person holding a constitutional position from the period before the major political upheaval of 2024. His possible resignation would mark another significant change in the country’s political landscape, which has witnessed a dramatic transition following months of unrest.
The political crisis began with student-led protests in July and August 2024, which eventually turned into a nationwide movement against the then government of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her Awami League. The protests led to the collapse of Hasina’s government, forcing her to leave Bangladesh and move to India on August 5, 2024.
Following the change in government, Bangladesh entered a new political phase, with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) becoming the dominant force under Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. Shahabuddin remained in office despite the change in administration, making him the last remaining senior constitutional figure from the previous political setup.
A senior BNP leader told PTI that the president’s resignation was expected soon but did not provide further details about the possible timeline or the reasons behind the move. "It is likely that he will resign soon," the leader said, adding to growing speculation surrounding the future of the presidency. Reports from several mainstream Bangladeshi media organisations have also suggested that relations between Shahabuddin and the government have weakened in recent weeks. The reports claimed that the administration was no longer fully comfortable with the president remaining in office.
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Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo quoted a high-level government source as saying that the government was unhappy over reports that Shahabuddin had attempted to reconnect with former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The report, however, did not provide specific details about the alleged communication or when it took place.
The presidency in Bangladesh is largely a ceremonial position, but it remains an important constitutional office, particularly during periods of political uncertainty. The president performs duties related to the functioning of the state and plays a role in maintaining constitutional continuity. Shahabuddin, a former judge and anti-corruption official, became president in 2023 after being nominated by the Awami League government.
His election took place during Hasina’s final term in power, before the political crisis that reshaped Bangladesh’s leadership structure. The possibility of his resignation comes as the interim political arrangement and new government continue efforts to consolidate authority following the 2024 unrest. A vacancy in the presidency would require Bangladesh to follow constitutional procedures for appointing a successor. However, neither the president’s office nor the government has officially confirmed that Shahabuddin plans to step down.
The reports remain based on political sources and media speculation. If the resignation takes place, it would become one of the most significant constitutional developments in Bangladesh since the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government. It could further reshape the country’s political institutions as the new administration attempts to establish stability after one of its most turbulent periods in recent history.
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