From Mostaq to Shahabuddin
President Mohammed Shahabuddin’s resignation on Friday has added his name to a short list of Bangladeshi heads of state who have left office before completing their terms.
Shahabuddin, the country’s 16th President, submitted his resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad on Friday afternoon.
While his resignation letter cited deteriorating health as the reason for stepping down, political sources suggested that sustained political pressure also contributed to his decision.
His departure marks the fifth resignation by a President in Bangladesh’s history. Besides these resignations, two presidents were assassinated while in office and one died during his tenure.
Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad
The first president to leave office under political pressure was the country’s fourth President, Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad. He assumed office following the military coup of 15 August 1975.
During his brief tenure, he reshuffled the military and civil administration and promulgated the controversial Indemnity Ordinance, granting legal protection to those involved in the events of 15 August. He was removed from office during another military coup on 3 November 1975.
Abdus Sattar
Bangladesh’s seventh President, Justice Abdus Sattar, first became Acting President following the assassination of President Ziaur Rahman in 1981. He was later elected President on 15 November 1981, securing around 66 per cent of the vote.
His presidency ended on 24 March 1982 when Army Chief Hussain Muhammad Ershad imposed martial law and seized power as Chief Martial Law Administrator. Sattar cited ill health and his inability to continue discharging presidential responsibilities.
Hussain Muhammad Ershad
Ershad ruled initially as Chief Martial Law Administrator before assuming the presidency on 11 December 1983 from Justice A.F.M. Ahsanuddin Chowdhury.
After forming the Jatiya Party, he was elected President in 1986.
His nearly nine-year rule ended on 6 December 1990 when a nationwide pro-democracy movement led by opposition parties forced him to resign.
AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury
Following the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991, the presidency became largely ceremonial.
AQM Badruddoza Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s 12th President, assumed office in 2001 but resigned in 2002 after mounting political pressure from within the ruling BNP.
The controversy centred on his decision not to visit the mausoleum of BNP founder and former President Ziaur Rahman on the latter’s death anniversary, citing the need to preserve presidential neutrality.
The move angered party leaders, and reports suggested impeachment proceedings were being considered.
Following discussions with BNP Chairperson and then Prime Minister Khaleda Zia on 21 June 2002, he resigned from the presidency. He subsequently left the BNP, while his son, Mahi B. Chowdhury, and BNP lawmaker M.A. Mannan also resigned from Parliament.
Shahabuddin
Shahabuddin took office as Bangladesh’s 22nd President on 24 April 2023.
In his resignation letter, he said he had long been suffering from heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney complications and autonomic neuropathy, making it impossible for him to continue performing his constitutional duties.
Political observers, however, said growing political pressure also played a role in his decision to step down.
Other Presidential Transitions
Not all presidential resignations were politically driven.
Abu Sayeed Chowdhury, Bangladesh’s second President, resigned on 24 December 1973 after serving following independence.
His resignation formed part of a government restructuring, and he was later appointed Special Envoy for Foreign Affairs with the rank of minister.
Justice Mohammad Mohammadullah succeeded him as Acting President and was later elected President in 1974. He served until 25 January 1975, when Sheikh Mujibur Rahman assumed the presidency after introducing the one-party BAKSAL system.
Following Sheikh Mujib’s assassination on 15 August 1975, Mohammadullah became Vice-President but resigned from that office on 7 November 1975 in accordance with Article 51(3) of the Constitution.
Bangladesh has also witnessed three presidents who died while serving in office.
Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the country’s first President, was assassinated in the military coup of 15 August 1975, while President Ziaur Rahman was killed during an attempted military coup on 30 May 1981. President Zillur Rahman died in office in 2013 after a prolonged illness.
