Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin has resigned nearly two years before the end of his five-year term, citing serious health concerns in a move that comes amid renewed political tensions in the South Asian country.
Shahabuddin, 76, submitted his resignation to Parliament on Friday, saying he was no longer able to carry out the constitutional responsibilities of his office because of his deteriorating health.
According to his resignation letter, “I am seriously ill.
"Therefore, I am unable to perform my duty of the constitutional post.”
Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad accepted the resignation and is expected to serve as acting president until a successor is elected, in line with Bangladesh's constitution.
Although Shahabuddin officially cited health reasons, his resignation follows months of political pressure over his perceived links to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who was removed from office during a student-led uprising in 2024 and later fled to India.
Local media have reported growing demands from political groups for him to step down, especially after Hasina announced plans to return to Bangladesh despite facing a death sentence handed down in absentia.
Shahabuddin became Bangladesh's president in April 2023 and remained in office through one of the country's most turbulent political periods.
Following Hasina's removal, he oversaw the swearing-in of an interim administration before the country's February 2026 elections, which brought a new government to power.
While the presidency is largely ceremonial, the office serves as the constitutional head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
His departure removes the last senior state official who had served continuously since before the 2024 uprising, marking another milestone in Bangladesh's political transition.
The government is expected to begin the process of electing a new president in the coming weeks.
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