Bangladesh President Shahabuddin Plans Resignation After February Vote

Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin announced his intention to resign following the parliamentary elections scheduled for February 12, 2024. This decision comes amid allegations of humiliation by the interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, as reported by Reuters. Shahabuddin, who has served as the head of state since 2023, described his role as increasingly ceremonial, with actual power resting in the hands of the prime minister and cabinet.

His presidency gained significance in August 2024 when a student-led uprising led to the exile of long-time Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. In the aftermath, Shahabuddin became the last constitutional authority after the parliamentary body was dissolved. Having been elected unopposed as a nominee of Hasina’s Awami League party, he now faces a complex political landscape, as his party has been barred from participating in the upcoming elections.

“I am keen to leave. I am interested to go out,” Shahabuddin stated in a WhatsApp interview from his official residence in Dhaka. He emphasized that he intends to fulfill his constitutional duties until the elections, despite expressing feelings of marginalization. He pointed out that Yunus has not met with him for nearly seven months, and significant changes have occurred, such as the removal of his press department and the sudden elimination of his portraits from diplomatic missions worldwide.

“There was the portrait of the president in all consulates, embassies, and high commissions, and this has been eliminated suddenly in one night,” he explained. Shahabuddin noted that this action sends a troubling message to the public, leading to perceptions of his possible removal from office. He described the experience as humiliating, indicating that he had communicated his concerns to Yunus, but received no response.

Shahabuddin has maintained regular contact with Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose forces refrained from intervening during the protests against Hasina. The general has assured Shahabuddin of his commitment to restoring democracy in Bangladesh, distancing himself from any ambitions of power. Despite initial calls for Shahabuddin’s resignation from some student protesters, he mentioned that no political party has made such requests in recent months.

Public sentiment appears to favor the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), led by former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and the hardline Jamaat-e-Islami as likely frontrunners in the upcoming elections. These parties previously governed in a coalition from 2001 to 2006. When asked whether Hasina had attempted to contact him since her departure, Shahabuddin refrained from commenting, reiterating his independence since taking office and his lack of affiliation with any political party.

With the political climate in Bangladesh shifting, Shahabuddin’s resignation could mark a significant turning point in the nation’s governance. As the February elections approach, the implications of these developments will likely resonate throughout the country.