Ex-President Shahabuddin to stay at Bangabhaban until Sunday

Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin will spend Friday night and Saturday at Bangabhaban despite stepping down from office earlier in the day.

He is scheduled to move to his private residence in Gulshan on Sunday, according to multiple sources at Bangabhaban and officials familiar with the matter.

Shahabuddin submitted his resignation letter to the Speaker of Parliament at around 4:30 pm on Friday. The letter was subsequently forwarded to the Parliament Secretariat. In accordance with the Constitution, he will leave the presidential residence after the resignation process is formally completed.

Sources said Shahabuddin will return to the Gulshan residence where he lived with his family before assuming the presidency. Security at the residence has already been strengthened, telephone connections have been installed, and other administrative preparations have been completed.

Relevant authorities are also putting in place the necessary security and protocol arrangements for the former president.

In his resignation letter, Shahabuddin said he has been suffering from several health conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney complications, and autonomic neuropathy, which was diagnosed recently. He said the illnesses occasionally cause him to lose consciousness, making it impossible for him to continue carrying out the constitutional responsibilities of the presidency.

Citing the need for long-term medical treatment, he resigned under Article 50(3) of the Constitution.

Shahabuddin was sworn in as Bangladesh's 22nd President on 24 April 2023. Following his resignation, Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed has assumed the role of Acting President under Article 54 of the Constitution and will remain in the position until a new president is elected.