Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Assumes Duties as Acting President

Photo: Collected

Bangladesh's 22nd President, Mohammed Shahabuddin, has resigned from his post. His resignation was confirmed through a press release issued by the National Parliament Secretariat on the afternoon of July 24, 2026. After returning to the country from Thailand following medical treatment, two days earlier than scheduled, National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed accepted his resignation and called an emergency press conference at the Parliament building.

Under Article 54 of the Constitution, National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will perform the duties of the President until a new president is elected. According to Article 123(2) of the Constitution, Parliament must elect a new president within 90 days after the office becomes vacant. Under Article 48(1), the new president will be elected by members of Parliament through a secret ballot or vote. As the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) currently holds a majority in Parliament, its nominated candidate is considered the most likely to become the next president.

Since the fall of the Awami League government following the July 2024 student-led mass uprising, there had been considerable political debate over the position of Mohammed Shahabuddin, who was appointed president by the then Awami League government on April 24, 2023. After the formation of a new government following the 13th parliamentary election, tensions reportedly developed between him and the government at various times due to the evolving interim and subsequent political situations, as well as dissatisfaction from different quarters over his position. According to some BNP political sources, Mohammed Shahabuddin may have cited personal illness or mental health reasons in his resignation letter.