Election Shahabuddin was nominated by the Awami League Parliamentary Party as their candidate for
President of Bangladesh. 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. Shahabuddin then held a tête-à-tête with Prime Minister
Sheikh Hasina at
Ganabhaban. His nomination was welcomed by the opposition
Jatiya Party, while the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party expressed their disinterest. 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.
Inauguration Shahabuddin was sworn in as the 22nd President of Bangladesh in a ceremony at the
Bangabhaban on 24 April 2023. 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.
Tenure In December 2023, Shahabuddin vetoed the Labour Bill 2023 which was passed by the Parliament and sent it for reconsideration.
Incidents following July Uprising as the Prime Minister in January 2024 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). President Shahabuddin addressed the nation on 5 August 2024 and stated that Hasina had resigned. 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". He immediately started the process of meeting with political leaders from around the country to discuss the formation of an interim government. He also dissolved the parliament and ordered the release of former Prime Minister
Khaleda Zia from house arrest. 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.
Nasimul Gani was appointed Secretary of the Public Department of the President's Office. On 8 August 2024, Shahabuddin swore in Nobel laureate
Muhammad Yunus as
Chief Adviser along with members of his
interim government at the
Bangabhaban. The interim government was dissolved on 17 February 2026 following the swearing-in of the
Tarique ministry. During its tenure, as the parliament was in dissolved state, the interim administration promulgated a total of 133 ordinances which were approved and signed by the president. Of these, 17 were issued in 2024, 80 in 2025, and 36 between January and February 2026. One notable order titled the "
July National Charter (Constitution Reform) Implementation Order, 2025" was also issued following consensus among the political parties in Bangladesh
. On 10 August 2024, following the resignation of Chief Justice
Obaidul Hassan, President Shahabuddin appointed
Syed Refaat Ahmed as Chief Justice. 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. During the interim government, Shahabuddin claimed he was largely isolated and reportedly faced attempts to remove him.
13th General Election and subsequent Incidents Tarique Rahman in February 2026. The 13th general election and a constitutional referendum were held on 12 February 2026 in Bangladesh, in which the
Bangladesh Nationalist Party, led by
Tarique Rahman, won a landslide victory. Tarique Rahman was elected Prime Minister by the confidence of the majority of Members of Parliament and subsequently formed the
government. Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the cabinet, led by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman, on 17 February 2026.
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. Opposition leader of the parliament
Shafiqur Rahman criticised Mohammed Shahabuddin, stating that he 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. At the first session of the 13th National Parliament, opposition members staged a walkout in protest against President Mohammed Shahabuddin as soon as he began his address. == Foreign Visits ==