Earlier President of Bangladesh had resigned citing health reasons
Ousted Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s former ally Mohammed Sahabuddin resigned as the President of Bangladesh on Friday, citing health and personal reasons for his decision. Following his resignation, National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed assumed charge as the acting president.
If the office of the president becomes vacant, Article 123 of the Bangladesh Constitution requires Parliament to elect a new President within 90 days through a vote by Members of Parliament. Until then, the Speaker serves as acting president.
Sahabuddin quits two years before completing his tenure
Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed as president in 2023 with the nomination of the Awami League resigned before completing his five-year term amid mounting pressure from Opposition parties and student leaders. Reports of Sahabuddin maintaining contact with Hasina further only mounted the pressure. Hasina is currently living in exile in India and has said she intends to return to Bangladesh around December.
Opposition says resignation should have been impeachment
National Citizen Party (NCP) Member Secretary Akhter Hossain said Sahabuddin should have been removed through impeachment rather than being allowed to resign. He alleged that the president had failed to intervene during the 2024 crackdown, and had effectively supported the killings.
Calling the 2024 crackdown “stain” on the nation, Hossain demanded a fair trial, arguing that the former president must be held accountable, the Dhaka Tribune reported.
The NCP, formed by leaders of the 2024 student uprising, has entered electoral politics as part of an alliance led by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami. The party has long campaigned for Sahabuddin’s removal, accusing him of collaborating with the ousted Awami League government.
Who could be Bangladesh’s next president?
As the ruling alliance holds a parliamentary majority, its nominee is expected to secure the presidency.
According to multiple Bangladesh National Party sources cited by the Dhaka Tribune, party secretary general Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir is the frontrunner in discussions to become the country’s next president. The report said that if the party finalises his candidature, he is expected to resign from his party post before assuming office.
The BNP is led by party founder and former President son Tarique Rahman, who is currently the Prime Minister of Bangladesh.
Other names under discussion include BNP Standing Committee members Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain and Dr Abdul Moyeen Khan.
However, BNP insiders told the Dhaka Tribune that several other senior leaders are also being discussed informally.
According to the report, the final decision will depend on political acceptability, the ability to discharge constitutional responsibilities, seniority within the party, and the prevailing political landscape.
There has been no official comment from the government or the BNP leadership on the matter. Senior leaders from both sides have maintained that the final decision on the next president would be taken after consultations at the highest political levels, following a review of the relevant constitutional and political considerations.
