President Mohammed Shahabuddin has decided to step down but will wait for Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad to return to Bangladesh before formally submitting his resignation, according to officials at Bangabhaban and a source close to the president.
The speaker left for Thailand for medical treatment on 19 July and is expected to return on 26 July, although officials said he could come back earlier.
Presidential Secretary Md Nurul Amin confirmed on Thursday that the resignation letter had not yet been signed.
"He has not yet signed the resignation letter. We will inform you if he resigns," he said.
A senior Bangabhaban official said the president could not formally resign because the speaker, who must receive the resignation under the Constitution, is currently outside the country.
"The person to whom he must submit it is not in the country. So, there is no opportunity to resign now," the official said, adding that the president had already decided to step down, whether for health or personal reasons.
A source close to Mohammed Shahabuddin said the president had informed officials that he could leave Bangabhaban within the next few days.
Under Article 50(3) of Bangladesh's Constitution, the president resigns by submitting a signed letter to the speaker. Article 54 states that the speaker assumes the role of acting president until a successor is elected.
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