Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed leaves Bangabhaban

Acting President Major (retd) Hafiz Uddin Ahmed Bir Bikram left Bangabhaban on Thursday afternoon (August 20), completing his brief tenure as head of state following the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin.

Hafiz Uddin Ahmed departed Bangabhaban at 1:25pm after a formal farewell ceremony.

Additionally, a smartly turned-out contingent of the armed forces accorded him a guard of honour, which he inspected before taking the salute.

After the ceremony, he exchanged farewell greetings with Bangabhaban officials and employees.

The chiefs of the three services, the president’s military and civilian secretaries and senior government officials attended the ceremony, while Bangabhaban staff bid him farewell with flowers.

Before leaving, Hafiz Uddin Ahmed wished the country peace and continued progress. He then departed in a motorcade in accordance with the prescribed protocol.

He assumed the acting presidency on July 24 after Shahabuddin resigned, in accordance with the constitutional provisions governing a vacancy in the presidency. He remained in the position until the election of a new president.

His departure coincided with the resumption of a contested presidential election after 35 years. Voting began at 2pm in the Jatiya Sangsad chamber, with BNP-nominated candidate Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir facing opposition alliance candidate Col (retd) Oli Ahmad.