Bangladesh President wants to quit mid-term, says he felt very much humiliated

Bangladesh's President Mohammed Shahabuddin has said he wants to leave office midway through his tenure after the country's February parliamentary election, stating that he has felt "humiliated" and sidelined by the interim administration led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. His remarks came during an exclusive conversation with Reuters on Thursday.

Mohammed Shahabuddin, 75, holds the role of commander-in-chief of the armed forces, though the presidency remains largely ceremonial in the South Asian nation of 173 million. Executive authority rests with the prime minister and cabinet. His office, however, took on prominence last year when a student-led revolt forced long-serving premier Sheikh Hasina to flee to New Delhi in August 2024, leaving him as the only constitutionally mandated authority after parliament's dissolution.

The president was elected unopposed in 2023 for a five-year term as the nominee of Hasina's Awami League, which has since been barred from contesting the 12 February election.

BANGLADESH PRESIDENT SAYS YUNUS SIDELINED HIM

In the interview conducted via WhatsApp from his official residence in Dhaka, Shahabuddin said he no longer wished to continue in office. "I am keen to leave. I am interested to go out," he said, adding that he would remain only until the election. "Until elections are held, I should continue. I am upholding my position because of the constitutionally held presidency."

He said he had been marginalised by the Yunus-led interim government. According to him, Yunus had not met him for nearly seven months, his press department had been removed, and portraits of the president were taken down from embassies and consulates worldwide in September.

"There was the portrait of the president, picture of the president in all consulates, embassies and high commissions, and this has been eliminated suddenly in one night," he said. "A wrong message goes to the people that perhaps the president is going to be eliminated. I felt very much humiliated."

Shahabuddin said he had written to Yunus over the removal of his portraits but received no response. "My voice has been stifled," he said. Yunus' press advisers have not responded to the request for comment, according to Reuters.

BANGLADESH PRESIDENT IN CONTACT WITH ARMY CHIEF

Shahabuddin said he remains in regular touch with Army Chief General Waker-uz-Zaman, whose forces stayed neutral during last year's deadly unrest that ended Hasina's rule. He said the army chief had assured him he had no intention of seizing power, despite Bangladesh's long history of military interventions. Zaman has publicly stated he wants democratic governance restored.

The president noted that although some student groups had initially demanded his resignation during the uprising, no political party has asked him to step aside in recent months.

Asked whether Hasina attempted to contact him after she fled the country, Shahabuddin refused to answer. He insisted he had acted independently since assuming office and was no longer tied to any political party.

Opinion surveys indicate the Bangladesh ist Party (BNP) led by former prime minister Khaleda Zia and the conservative Jamaat-e-Islami are likely to lead the race for forming the next government. The two parties previously governed in coalition from 2001 to 2006.

- Ends

With inputs from agencies

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