DHAKA, Bangladesh— Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned from office, citing serious health concerns, bringing an end to his tenure amid a period of significant political transition following the ouster of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
In a statement released on Friday through his press secretary, the 76-year-old president said recent medical examinations had diagnosed him with autonomic neuropathy, a condition that has caused him to experience intermittent loss of consciousness.
“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 said.
Shahabuddin, who assumed office in April 2023, served throughout a turbulent period that included the 2024 student-led uprising that forced then-Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India after weeks of nationwide protests.
His resignation comes about five months before Hasina’s planned return to Bangladesh and leaves her without any allies in the country’s top constitutional offices. Her Awami League party remains banned, while many of its senior leaders and supporters have either been detained or gone into hiding following the political upheaval.
Under Bangladesh’s constitutional arrangements, the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (National Parliament) will perform the duties of president until Parliament elects a new head of state.
Although the presidency is largely ceremonial, the office serves as the constitutional head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Executive authority remains vested in the prime minister and the cabinet.
Shahabuddin, a former judge and longtime political ally of Sheikh Hasina, was elected president with the backing of the Awami League during its time in government. His tenure coincided with one of the most volatile periods in Bangladesh’s recent political history, marked by widespread protests, political violence and sweeping changes to the country’s leadership.
His resignation adds another layer of uncertainty to Bangladesh’s evolving political landscape as the country continues to navigate institutional reforms and preparations for the next phase of its democratic transition.