Mohammed Shahabuddin

Political

Shahabuddin was a student leader of the Awami League during the late 1960s and early 1970s. He was the general secretary of the Pabna Edward College unit of the Chhatra League, and president of the Pabna District Chhatra League and Jubo League.^[7] He was the Pabna District convenor of the Shadhin Bangla Chhatra Shongram Parishad.^[8] He participated in the Liberation War as a freedom fighter. He was the joint secretary of the Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) of the district unit and publicity secretary of the Awami League district unit. He was imprisoned after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975 for three years.^[7]

Professional

Mohammed Shahabuddin worked as a journalist for Daily Banglar Bani from 1980-1982.^[9] In 1982, Shahabuddin joined as a Munsef (Assistant Judge) of the Judicial cadre in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS). He was finally promoted to the post of District and Sessions Judge, the highest position of the Bangladesh Judicial Service. He was elected to serve as General Secretary of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Association in 1995 and 1996. Following the 2001 general election, he chaired the judicial inquiry commission investigating crimes—including murder, rape, and looting—allegedly committed by leaders and activists of the BNP-Jamaat alliance.^[9] He was a commissioner of Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016.^[7]

Shahabuddin was appointed by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs to serve as a coordinator in the trial to prosecute the assassins of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He served as Election Commissioner in the 2022 National Council of Bangladesh Awami League.^[10]

In February 2023, Shahabuddin resigned from the board of directors of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited after being elected president of Bangladesh, a position he held since 2017.^[11]

Election

Shahabuddin was nominated by the Awami League Parliamentary Party as their candidate for President of Bangladesh.^[12] On 12 February 2023, he submitted his application to the Chief Election Commissioner and the Presidential Election Officer at the Election Commission for the presidential election, the only candidate to do so.^[13] Shahabuddin then held a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina at Ganabhaban.^[14] His nomination was welcomed by the opposition Jatiya Party, while the Bangladesh Nationalist Party expressed their disinterest.^[15] On 13 February 2023, he was officially elected as the country's 22nd president as he was unopposed. The result was declared by the Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal.^[16][17]

Inauguration

Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd President of Bangladesh in a ceremony at the Bangabhaban on 24 April 2023.^[18] Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury administered the oath. Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique, Sheikh Rehana, cabinet members, and other guests attended the state ceremony. After the swearing-in ceremony, Shahabuddin and outgoing president Mohammad Abdul Hamid officially switched their seats as part of the ceremony of changing the charge of the office. Shahabuddin and Speaker Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury signed the oath documents of the office.^[19]

Tenure

In December 2023, Shahabuddin vetoed the Labour Bill 2023 which was passed by the Parliament and sent it for reconsideration.^[20][21]

Incidents following July Uprising

Shahabuddin with Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister in January and Muhammad Yunus as the Chief Adviser in August 2024

On 5 August 2024, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Waker-uz-Zaman announced the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina following the Non-cooperation movement (2024).^[22][23] President Shahabuddin addressed the nation on 5 August 2024 and stated that Hasina had resigned.^[24][25] However he later stated that "he had heard Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of prime minister, but he had no documentary evidence to support this".^[26][27]

He immediately started the process of meeting with political leaders from around the country to discuss the formation of an interim government.^[28] He also dissolved the parliament^[29] and ordered the release of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from house arrest.^[30]

On 6 August 2024, Shahabuddin, as Commander-in-Chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, issued a major reshuffle of the Bangladesh Army, which included the demotion or discharging of several Awami League-aligned officers, including Major General Ziaul Ahsan.^[31] Nasimul Gani was appointed Secretary of the Public Department of the President's Office.^[32]

On 8 August 2024, Shahabuddin swore in Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser along with members of his interim government at the Bangabhaban.^[33] The interim government was dissolved on 17 February 2026 following the swearing-in of the Tarique Ministry. During its tenure, the interim administration promulgated a total of 133 ordinances which were approved and signed by president Shahabuddin. Of these, 17 were issued in 2024, 80 in 2025, and 36 between January and February 2026. One order titled the July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025 was also issued following consensus among the political parties in Bangladesh.^[34]

On 10 August 2024, following the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, President Shahabuddin appointed Syed Refaat Ahmed as Chief Justice.^[35] After the interim government's tenure, Sahabuddin criticized Muhammad Yunus for repeatedly failing to follow constitutional provisions and praised the Bangladesh Nationalist Party for their support.^[36] During the interim government, Shahabuddin claimed he was largely isolated and reportedly faced attempts to remove him.^[37]

13th General Election and subsequent Incidents

Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on 17 February 2026 following the 13th parliamentary election.^[38] Nahid Islam, Member of Parliament from Dhaka-11 and Chief Whip of the opposition demanded impeachment and arrest of Shahabuddin, calling him as an associate of the July Massacre.^[39]

Opposition leader of the parliament Shafiqur Rahman stated that the President had neither protested nor acted against the killings during the tenure of Sheikh Hasina and had lost credibility by providing misleading statements to the nation, including contradicting his 5 August 2024 claim regarding the resignation of Sheikh Hasina as the Prime Minister.^[40]

Dispute over former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's resignation

Following the ousting of Sheikh Hasina, Shahabuddin, in a video statement, stated that Hasina had resigned. Later in October 2024, during a conversation with Manab Zamin's chief editor,^[41] he stated that

I tried [to collect the resignation letter] many times but failed. Maybe she did not get the time. When things came under control, one day the cabinet secretary came to collect the copy of the resignation letter. I told him that I too am looking for it,^[42]

This triggered a demand for his resignation.^[43] However, Shahabuddin later issued an official statement where he stated that Sheikh Hasina's Resignation is a settled matter and urged all not to create any controversy regarding this.^[44]

Walkout of Opposition MPs during Shahabuddin's speech

On 12 March, 2026, during the first session of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed announced that Shahabuddin would be delivering a speech, soon MPs of the 11 Party Alliance began displaying cards and chanting slogans. Speaker Hafizuddin Ahmed then requested the MPs to take their seats and maintain order. Shortly after Shahabuddin begin his speech the Opposition MPs walked out.^{[45][46][47][48][49]}

Shift in political stance

Shahabuddin was a member of the Awami League and admirer of Sheikh Hasina and Sheikh Mujibur Rahman. He was a critic of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party but following Bangladesh Nationalist Party in the 2026 General Election and Tarique Rahman's takeover as Prime Minister Shahabuddin criticised Sheikh Hasina’s Government for the July Massacre and described the regime as facist. He praised former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia and former President & Chief of Army Staff Ziaur Rahman.^[50]