Former President Leaves Bangabhaban After Resignation

Former President Mohammed Shahabuddin left Bangabhaban with his family on Sunday, a day after resigning from office, bringing an early end to his tenure as Bangladesh’s head of state.

Shahabuddin departed the presidential residence at around 2.25pm, according to reports. His motorcade was seen leaving the premises, comprising the presidential vehicle and 18 vehicles carrying members of the law enforcement agencies.

A number of journalists had been waiting outside Bangabhaban since midday to cover the former president’s departure. Curious members of the public also gathered along the road in front of the presidential residence. Security personnel maintained a visible presence in the area throughout the afternoon as preparations were made for Shahabuddin to leave.

Security has also been tightened at Shahabuddin’s residence on Road 123 in Gulshan, Dhaka, where preparations were under way ahead of his return. Police, the Rapid Action Battalion and other members of the law enforcement agencies were stationed around the house from the morning.

Cleaning and maintenance work was also reportedly being carried out at the Gulshan residence. The ground-floor sitting area had been freshly painted, while furniture was being cleaned and rearranged. Shahabuddin had lived in a flat on the fifth floor of the building before becoming president.

Following Shahabuddin’s departure from Bangabhaban, Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed will carry out the official duties of the presidency. However, he is expected to continue residing at the official residence designated for the Speaker of Parliament rather than moving into Bangabhaban.

The change in the country’s top constitutional office followed Shahabuddin’s resignation on Friday afternoon. He sent his signed resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed, who subsequently announced the development at a press conference held in the oath-taking room of Parliament. The Speaker also declared that he had assumed the responsibilities of the president in accordance with the Constitution.

Shahabuddin cited ill health as the reason for stepping down. His resignation came well before the scheduled completion of his five-year presidential term, marking a significant change at the highest level of the country’s constitutional structure.

Shahabuddin, nominated by the Awami League, was elected unopposed and took oath as Bangladesh’s 22nd president on 24 April 2023. Under the constitutional framework, the presidential term is five years, meaning his tenure was originally expected to continue until April 2028.

His departure from Bangabhaban, therefore, comes roughly 21 months before the expected end of his term. The transition has placed Hafiz Uddin Ahmed in the position of acting president, with the presidential responsibilities now being carried out under the constitutional arrangements following Shahabuddin’s resignation.