NEW DELHI (Diya TV) — Bangladeshi President Mohammed Shahabuddin says he plans to step down halfway through his five-year term, citing months of humiliation and isolation under the country’s interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus. In an exclusive interview with Reuters, the president described a growing sense of disrespect that pushed him toward an early exit after the February 2025 parliamentary election.
Shahabuddin, 75, has held office since 2023. He was elected unopposed as the nominee of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Awami League. His position is largely ceremonial, but it took on new significance last year after a student-led uprising forced Hasina to flee to New Delhi and left him as the country’s top constitutional authority.
The president said the interim government has sidelined him for months. He said Yunus has not met him for nearly seven months and removed key functions tied to his office. His press department was taken away, and in September, government officials ordered the removal of his portraits from Bangladesh’s embassies and consulates around the world.
Shahabuddin said the sudden removal created fear and confusion. He said people might think the president was “going to be eliminated.” He said he felt insulted by the move and wrote to Yunus seeking action, but he received no response. He said the government has “stifled” his voice.
Shahabuddin said he wants to step down once a new government takes office after the Feb. 12 election. He emphasized that he will remain in the position until then to maintain constitutional order. He said he is “keen to leave” because the situation has become untenable. While some early protesters demanded his resignation, Shahabuddin said no major political party has recently asked him to step aside. He said the issue is now personal, based on how he has been treated by the interim leadership.
Shahabuddin said he has been in close contact with Army Chief Gen. Waker-uz-Zaman. Troops stayed in their barracks during the violent demonstrations in August 2024, a decision that contributed to Hasina’s downfall. Bangladesh has a long history of military rule, but Shahabuddin said Zaman has assured him he has no plan to seize power. The president said the general supports a return to democratic rule. Zaman has made similar statements in public speeches.
The upcoming election marks a major shift for Bangladesh. The Awami League, which governed for 20 years under Hasina, is barred from the race. Opinion polls show the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami as frontrunners. The two parties once ruled in coalition from 2001 to 2006. The president declined to answer questions about whether Hasina has reached out to him since fleeing. He said he has acted independently since taking office and no longer represents any political party.
Shahabuddin’s announcement adds another layer of uncertainty to a nation already facing political instability. Bangladesh is preparing for a high-stakes election amid economic pressure, student protests, and deep divisions among rival parties. The president said his goal is to continue serving until the election, then step aside to make room for new leadership. He said he hopes the next government will restore stability and give Bangladesh a chance to move forward.
