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Mohammed Shahabuddin

President

Assumed Office: 4/24/2023

Timeline

1949

Born on 10 December in Pabna District, East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan.

1975

Imprisoned for three years after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

1982

Joined the Bangladesh Civil Service as a Munsef (Civil Judge).

2011

Appointed as a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission, serving until 2016.

2023

Elected unopposed as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on 13 February and sworn in on 24 April.

2024

Addressed the nation on 5 August following Sheikh Hasina's resignation, dissolved parliament, and ordered Khaleda Zia's release.

2024

Swore in Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser of the interim government on 8 August.

2026

Stepped down from the presidency on 24 July, citing ill health.

Biography

Mohammed Shahabuddin, also known as Chuppu, is a Bangladeshi politician, former jurist, and journalist who served as the 22nd President of Bangladesh from 2023 to 2026. He was elected unopposed as the Awami League nominee. Notably, he is the first and only president of Bangladesh to administer the oath of three different governments. Prior to his presidency, he held roles as a district and sessions judge and a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016. Shahabuddin resigned on July 24, 2026, citing ill health, following a period of political scrutiny regarding his neutrality.

Early Life & Background

Mohammed Shahabuddin was born on 10 December 1949 in the Jubilee Tank area in Shivrampur of Pabna District in erstwhile East Bengal, Dominion of Pakistan (present-day Pabna, Bangladesh). His parents were Sharfuddin Ansari and Khairunnessa. He was involved in Awami League politics during his student years, participating as a freedom fighter in the Liberation War.

Education

Shahabuddin attended Pabna's Purbatan Gandhi School and Radhanagar Majumdar Academy, where he passed his SSC examination in 1966. He then completed his HSC in 1968 and a bachelor's degree in 1972 from Govt. Edward College, Pabna. He obtained a master's in psychology from the University of Rajshahi in 1974 and an LLB from Shahid Aminuddin Law College in 1975.

Political & Professional Career

Shahabuddin was a prominent student leader of the Awami League in the late 1960s and early 1970s, serving as general secretary of the Pabna Edward College unit of Chhatra League and president of Pabna District Chhatra League and Jubo League. He was imprisoned for three years after the assassination of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in 1975. He worked as a journalist before joining the Bangladesh Civil Service as a Munsef in 1982, rising to District and Sessions Judge. From 2011 to 2016, he served as a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission. He was elected unopposed as President of Bangladesh in February 2023, serving until his resignation in July 2026.

Key Achievements & Legacy

Served as the 22nd President of Bangladesh from 2023 to 2026., Elected unopposed as President in the 2023 presidential election., First and only president of Bangladesh to administer the oath of three different governments., Participated in the Liberation War as a freedom fighter., Served as a District and Sessions Judge, the highest position in the Bangladesh Judicial Service.

Frequently Asked Questions

When was Mohammed Shahabuddin born?
Mohammed Shahabuddin was born on 10 December 1949.
What was Mohammed Shahabuddin's role before becoming president?
Prior to his presidency, he served as a district and sessions judge and a commissioner of the Anti-Corruption Commission from 2011 to 2016. He also worked as a journalist and was involved in student politics.
How was Mohammed Shahabuddin elected president?
He was nominated by the Awami League Parliamentary Party and was the only candidate to submit an application, leading to his unopposed election as the 22nd President of Bangladesh on 13 February 2023.
When did Mohammed Shahabuddin serve as president?
He served as the President of Bangladesh from 24 April 2023 to 24 July 2026.
What significant actions did President Shahabuddin take after Sheikh Hasina's resignation in August 2024?
He addressed the nation, dissolved the parliament, ordered the release of former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, and initiated meetings with political leaders to form an interim government, eventually swearing in Muhammad Yunus as Chief Adviser.
Why did Mohammed Shahabuddin resign from the presidency?
He stepped down on 24 July 2026, citing incapacitation from autonomic neuropathy, heart disease, and diabetes, following mounting political pressure.
What was his political affiliation during his student years?
He was a student leader of the Awami League, serving as general secretary of the Pabna Edward College unit of Chhatra League and president of Pabna District Chhatra League and Jubo League.
What controversies surrounded his presidency?
Controversies included his shifting political stance, questions regarding his neutrality, and a dispute over the official documentation of Sheikh Hasina's resignation. Opposition MPs also staged a walkout during his presidential speech in March 2026.