Speaker returns early from Bangkok but offers no clarity on President’s resignation

Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad Hafiz Uddin Ahmed returned to Bangladesh on Friday, cutting short his stay in Bangkok where he had been receiving medical treatment.

He had originally been scheduled to return on July 26.

The Speaker arrived at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport at 12:15 pm and was welcomed by Chief Whip of the Jatiya Sangsad Nurul Islam.

However, when questioned by journalists about President Md. Shahabuddin’s resignation, Hafiz declined to provide any clear information.

“I do not know anything as I was abroad for the past week,” he told reporters. “I heard about the resignation just as the journalists have heard.”

When asked directly about the matter, the Speaker said: “I do not know what the President will do or not.”

He added that he had been out of the country and was therefore unaware of developments regarding any potential resignation.

Hafiz noted that if the President were to resign, the resignation would be submitted to the Speaker.

According to parliamentary procedure, the Jatiya Sangsad would then elect a new president within the next 90 days.

The early return followed a request from high-level government sources.

The Speaker confirmed that his health check-up had been completed.