‘Humiliated by interim government’: Bangladesh President to step down after parliamentary election in February | World News

Shahabuddin, who was elected unopposed, belongs to the ousted Prime Minister Sheik Hasian’s Awami League, and continued to hold the post, which is largely ceremonial, even after the uprising.

“I am keen to leave. I am interested to go out,” he told Reuters.

“Until elections are held, I should continue,” Shahabuddin said. “I am upholding my position because of the constitutionally held presidency.”

Sidelined by Yunus

According to the 75-year-old, whose term would come to an end only in April 2028, the head of the interim government, Yunus, had not met him for nearly seven months, his press department had been taken away and, in September, his portraits were removed from Bangladeshi embassies around the world.

“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 about the portraits, but no action was taken.

If you are enjoying this post, will you share it with someone else who might, too?




Share this article

Bangladesh announces election date

Earlier, Bangladesh’s chief election commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said in a televised address to the nation on Thursday that the country will hold the next national elections on February 12, 2026.

He said that a national referendum would also be held on the same day as voting to elect 300 lawmakers. The last elections were held in January 2024, when Hasina returned to office for a fourth consecutive term. The vote was boycotted by her main rivals, who accused her administration of rigging the result.