President Shahabuddin likely to quit? Bangladesh politics enters new phase amid speculation

Dhaka: Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin is expected to resign soon, nearly two years before the completion of his five-year term, according to political sources and reports from Bangladeshi media outlets.

A senior leader of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman's Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) told PTI that Shahabuddin's resignation was likely but did not provide further details. Speculation over a possible change in the presidency intensified after reports suggested that the government was no longer comfortable with his continuation in office.

Shahabuddin is currently the only constitutional office-holder from the previous Awami League government who has remained in office after the student-led uprising of July-August 2024 that resulted in the removal of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Political pressure grows after Hasina's reported return plans

Reports about Shahabuddin's possible resignation gained momentum after several Bangladeshi media organisations claimed that the government was considering replacing him.

According to reports, the government was reportedly unhappy over allegations that Shahabuddin had attempted to reconnect with Sheikh Hasina, who left Bangladesh on August 5, 2024, following the fall of her government and has remained in India since then.

A report by Bangladeshi newspaper Prothom Alo, citing government sources, said concerns had increased after reports of communication between Shahabuddin and Hasina emerged.

However, a senior BNP leader told The Daily Star that the reported conversation between the president and the former prime minister was not the only reason behind the possible resignation. The leader said the situation was more complicated due to Bangladesh's evolving political environment.

Sheikh Hasina's planned return adds to political tensions

The political uncertainty comes as Sheikh Hasina recently announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December. The Bangladesh government said it welcomed her decision to return but maintained that she would have to face legal proceedings.

Hasina was removed from power after the July-August 2024 student-led uprising, which led to widespread political changes in the country. She later moved to India, where she has remained since leaving Bangladesh.

Legal proceedings against Sheikh Hasina

Bangladesh's International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) sentenced Sheikh Hasina and former Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia on November 17, 2025.

The tribunal found them responsible for their alleged superior role in actions taken during the suppression of the protests that are now referred to as the "July Uprising".

The ICT-BD was originally established in 2010 by the Awami League government to prosecute individuals accused of crimes linked to the 1971 Bangladesh Liberation War. After Hasina's removal, the interim administration led by Muhammad Yunus amended the tribunal's law to allow cases against former Awami League leaders and officials over allegations of crimes against humanity.

What happens if the president resigns?

Under the Bangladesh Constitution, if the president resigns, the Speaker of Parliament takes over as interim president until a new head of state is elected.

Shahabuddin, a former lower judiciary judge and a Liberation War veteran, became president in April 2023 for a five-year term. His possible resignation would mark another major political development in Bangladesh following the dramatic changes that began with the 2024 uprising.