Mohammed Shahabuddin (born 10 December 1949)[3] is a Bangladeshi jurist, civil servant, and politician who is the 16th and incumbent President of Bangladesh. He was elected unopposed in the 2023 presidential election in the nomination of the rulingAwami League. Prior to his presidency, he served as a district and sessions judge and a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016.[4]
Shahabuddin went to Pabna's Purbatan Gandhi School and later was admitted to Radhanagar Majumdar Academy at fourth grade where he passed SSC examination in 1966.[3] He then passed HSC and bachelor's from Govt. Edward College, Pabna in 1968 and 1972 respectively.[7] He then obtained master's in psychology from the University of Rajshahi in 1974, and then LLB from Shahid Aminuddin Law College in 1975.[3]
Career
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. He was the Pabna District convenor of the Shadhin Bangla Chatro 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.[8]
In 1982, Shahabuddin joined as a Munsef (Assistant Judge) of the Judicial cadre in the Bangladesh Civil Service (BCS).[8] 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 Judicial Service Association in 1995 and 1996.[9]
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.[10]
Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd President of Bangladesh in a ceremony at the Bangabhaban on 24 April 2023.[17] 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.[18]
Tenure
On March of 2024, Shahabuddin vetoed the Labour Bill 2023 which was passed by the Parliament and sent it for reconsideration.
Resignation of Sheikh Hasina
On 5 August 2024, the Chief of the Army Staff, General Waker-uz-Zaman handed the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to Shahabuddin.[19][20][21]He immediately started the process of meeting with political leaders from around the country to discuss the formation of an interim government and is expected to formalise the dissolution of the current parliament soon.[22]
President Shahabuddin also ordered the release of ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia from house arrest.[23]
^Sheikh, Emran Hossain (12 February 2023). "কেন রাষ্ট্রপতি পদে আ.লীগের পছন্দ সাহাবুদ্দিন চুপ্পু?" [Why Shahabuddin Chuppu is favourite of A.League for the post of President?]. Bangla Tribune (in Bengali). Retrieved 15 February 2023.