POBNEWS24, Dhaka July 27, 2026 : Bangladesh President Mohammad Shahabuddin resigned on Saturday. This time the government of that country opened up about the news that has spread that he spoke to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the phone while in London. Bangladeshi Home Minister Salahuddin Ahmed said that the government has no information on this matter.
Shahabuddin was elected president in 2023 when Hasina was in power. His term of office was until April 2028. Speculation has been rife about his decision to resign with nine months left. Many are claiming that Shahabuddin decided to leave the post of president after speaking to Hasina on the phone. In this regard, Salahuddin, sitting in the meeting room of the Home Ministry at the Secretariat in Dhaka on Sunday, said that he had seen the news in the media. But the government does not have any such information. No evidence has been found for it. The Bangladeshi Home Minister claimed that he did not know on what basis this news was spread. He also said, “Now, in the age of the internet, if you want to talk to someone, you don’t have to go to London. You can talk from here.”
A few days ago, Shahabuddin went to London for medical treatment. Speculations about his resignation started after his return. It is not clear why he left the post of President so early. However, he submitted his resignation to the Speaker on Saturday. According to the constitution of Bangladesh, the Speaker will handle the interim duties until a new president is elected. However, a new president must be elected within 90 days of the vacancy. Since the BNP has a majority in the country’s parliament, their nominated representative is more likely to become the president. Bangladeshi media claims that BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul could be the next president. For now, his name is the most discussed for the post.
Since the news of Hasina’s conversation with Shahabuddin came to light, Bangladesh’s opposition camps have been vocal. Shahabuddin was close to Hasina when she was in power. The opposition has demanded his arrest. However, Home Minister Salahuddin has practically ruled out that possibility. He said that according to the constitution, the president is protected from any criminal case. Apart from that, no evidence has been found against him. At the same time, Salahuddin has also accepted that the opposition has the right to criticize and protest. In his words, “At the end of the dictatorship (during Hasina’s tenure), during the interim government and during the current government, the president has performed his duties according to the rules and the constitution. We have received his cooperation. According to the constitution, he has immunity (protection). A case cannot be filed against him for criminal offenses or other matters. If anyone says anything beyond this, they have that freedom.” The Home Minister of Bangladesh also said that Shahabuddin will get all the privileges according to the constitution as a former president.
