Guwahati: Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on Friday, with an official statement saying the decision was due to serious health problems.
Shahabuddin, 76, took office in April 2023 and served as president during a turbulent period that followed the 2024 student-led uprising, which forced former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee to India.
In a statement issued by his press secretary, Shahabuddin said he had been diagnosed with Autonomic Neuropathy and that the illness sometimes causes brief episodes of unconsciousness.
His departure means Sheikh Hasina will no longer have a trusted associate in a top constitutional position ahead of her planned return in five months.
Since the 2024 uprising removed her government from power, the Awami League has been banned, while many of its leaders and workers have either been jailed or have gone into hiding.
According to the official statement, the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad will discharge the president’s responsibilities until a successor is elected.
While the president is the constitutional head of state and the supreme commander of the armed forces, the country’s executive powers are exercised by the prime minister and the cabinet.