Bangladesh President Shahabuddin Facing Pressure To Step Down For Attempting To Contact Sheikh Hasina

Published 23 July 2026 · politics

Bangladesh President Shahabuddin Facing Pressure To Step Down For Attempting To Contact Sheikh Hasina Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 16:13 IST Talk of

Bangladesh President Shahabuddin Facing Pressure To Step Down For Attempting To Contact Sheikh Hasina Published By, Last Updated: July 23, 2026, 16:13 IST Talk of Shahabuddin's resignation has gained momentum in recent days, with local media reporting that the government is no longer comfortable with his continuation as president. Bangladesh’s President Mohammed Shahabuddin. (Reuters) Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin is likely to resign soon, nearly two years before the end of his five-year term, according to political sources and local media reports. Shahabuddin, who assumed office in April 2023, is the only constitutional office-holder from the previous Awami League government still serving after the mass student-led protests of July-August 2024. The demonstrations forced then-prime minister Sheikh Hasina to leave the country. She has been living in India since August 5, 2024. A senior leader of Prime Minister Tarique Rahman’s ruling Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) told PTI that Shahabuddin was expected to resign soon but did not provide further details. Speculation over his resignation has grown over the past two days, with several Bangladeshi media outlets reporting that the government is no longer comfortable with the president remaining in office.

According to newspaper Prothom Alo citing a senior government source, the administration was unhappy over reports that Shahabuddin had recently attempted to re-establish contact with Hasina. Meanwhile, The Daily Star quoted a senior BNP leader as saying that the reported telephone conversation between Shahabuddin and Hasina was not the only factor behind the expected resignation. The leader said the political situation had become more sensitive, especially after Hasina announced plans to return to Bangladesh in December. Earlier this month, Hasina said she intended to return home before the end of the year. The Bangladesh government responded by saying it welcomed her return but maintained that she would have to face legal proceedings. On November 17, 2025, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT-BD) sentenced Hasina and her former home minister Asaduzzaman Khan Kamal to death in absentia. The court held them responsible for their role in suppressing the protests, which are now officially referred to as the “July Uprising." If Shahabuddin resigns, Speaker of Parliament Hafizuddin Ahmed will serve as acting president until a new head of state is elected, as provided under the Bangladesh Constitution.