President resigns

President Md. Shahabuddin has finally resigned.

When asked about the matter, he told the media on Friday afternoon, “It is already common knowledge. What is the point of hearing it from me? I am sick, so it is done.”

Asked whether he had signed the resignation letter, he said, “I have already said it. You can understand.”

Meanwhile, a press briefing has been scheduled at the Jatiya Sangsad Bhaban at 5 p.m. regarding the acceptance of the president’s resignation letter. A senior official of the Parliament Secretariat confirmed the information. He told the media, “The briefing has been called regarding the president.”

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed traveled to Bangkok for medical treatment on July 19. According to his itinerary, his return ticket was booked for July 26. However, on Wednesday, speculation over President Md. Shahabuddin’s resignation began following a Facebook post by expatriate journalist Zulkarnain Saer.

Several officials at the President’s Office and a close associate of the president told the media that the president had decided to resign. However, the submission of the resignation letter was being delayed because the speaker was not in the country.

Under Article 50(3) of the Constitution, the president may resign by sending a signed letter addressed to the speaker. If the office of the president becomes vacant, Article 54 states that the speaker will perform the duties of the president until a new president is elected.

Although the Constitution does not require the speaker to be in the country or physically present at the time of the president’s resignation, the speaker must assume the responsibilities immediately after the office of the president becomes vacant. For that reason, according to officials, the government at the highest level requested the speaker to shorten his overseas visit and return to the country on Friday.

The speaker returned to Bangladesh from Bangkok on a Biman Bangladesh Airlines flight at 12:10 pm Friday.