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President of Bangladesh

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President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশের রাষ্ট্রপতি
Seal of the president
Standard of the president
since 21 August 2026
Executive branch of the Government of Bangladesh
Style
Type
ResidenceBangabhaban
AppointerJatiya Sangsad
Term lengthFive years
renewable once
Constituting instrumentConstitution of Bangladesh
PrecursorGovernor of East Pakistan
Inaugural holderSheikh Mujibur Rahman
Formation17 April 1971; 55 years ago (1971-04-17)
DeputySpeaker of the Jatiya Sangsad (acts as president when the office is vacant or the president is unable to act)
Salary৳1440000 (US$12,000) per year[1]
Websitebangabhaban.gov.bd

The president of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশের রাষ্ট্রপতি), officially the president of the People's Republic of Bangladesh (Bengali: গণপ্রজাতন্ত্রী বাংলাদেশের রাষ্ট্রপতি), is the head of state of Bangladesh and the commander-in-chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces. Bangladesh has had a mainly ceremonial presidency since the restoration of the parliamentary system in 1991. Under Article 48 of the Constitution, the president must act on the advice of the prime minister in almost all matters; the two exceptions are the appointment of the prime minister and the chief justice.[2]

The president is elected by members of the Jatiya Sangsad for a five-year term and may serve no more than two terms. The incumbent president is Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, who was elected by parliament on 20 August 2026 and took office the following day.[3][4] His election followed the resignation of Mohammed Shahabuddin on 24 July 2026; Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad served as acting president until Alamgir took office.[5]

Constitutional role

The Constitution places the president first in the order of precedence as head of state, but executive power is exercised by or on the authority of the prime minister. Except for appointing the prime minister and the chief justice, the president acts on the prime minister's advice.[2]

The president is formally commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Government actions are expressed in the president's name, but this does not give the office independent control over the executive branch.

The July Charter proposed giving the president more independent authority over some appointments and other constitutional matters. Those proposals were approved in the February 2026 referendum, but as of August 2026 the relevant constitutional amendments had not been enacted. The presidency therefore continued to operate under the existing constitutional rules.[6]

Appointments

The president appoints as prime minister the member of parliament who appears to command the support of a majority of MPs. The president also appoints the chief justice independently under Article 95.[2] Other ministers, judges and constitutional officeholders are formally appointed by the president under the Constitution or other laws, but in those cases the president acts on the advice required by the Constitution.

Legislation

A bill passed by parliament is presented to the president for assent. Under Article 80, the president may return a bill other than a money bill to parliament for reconsideration. If parliament passes it again, the president must assent within the constitutional time limit; otherwise assent is deemed to have been given.[7]

Prerogative of mercy

Article 49 gives the president power to grant pardons, reprieves and respites, and to remit, suspend or commute sentences imposed by courts, tribunals or other authorities.[2]

Universities

The president is chancellor of many public universities under their establishing laws and performs functions assigned to the chancellor by those laws or university statutes. For example, the Jahangirnagar University Act names the president as chancellor and gives the chancellor a role in convocations and appointments.[8]

Election and tenure

Eligibility

Article 48 states that a presidential candidate must be at least 35 years old, must be qualified for election to parliament and must not have been removed from the presidency by impeachment.[2]

A sitting president cannot be a member of parliament. If an MP is elected president, the parliamentary seat becomes vacant when the person takes office.[2]

Election

The president is elected by members of the Jatiya Sangsad under the Presidential Election Act, 1991. Since the president is chosen by MPs rather than by voters directly, the candidate backed by the parliamentary majority has usually been elected without a competitive ballot.

The 2026 election was contested. Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, the candidate of the governing Bangladesh Nationalist Party, defeated Oli Ahmad by 255 votes to 88. It was the first contested presidential election since 1991.[3][9]

Term

A president serves for five years from the date of taking office and may serve a maximum of two terms, consecutive or otherwise. A president remains in office after the end of a term until a successor enters office.[2]

The president may resign by submitting a signed letter to the speaker of parliament.[2]

Oath

Before taking office, the president takes an oath or affirmation before the speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad under Article 148 and the Third Schedule of the Constitution. The oath requires the president to discharge the office according to law, remain faithful to Bangladesh, defend the Constitution and act without fear or favour.[7]

Vacancy and succession

Article 54 provides that the speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad performs the functions of president when the office is vacant or when the president is unable to act because of absence, illness or another cause.[7]

The provision has been used several times. Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar acted as president after A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury resigned in 2002. Speaker Abdul Hamid acted as president during Zillur Rahman's illness in 2013 and continued after Rahman's death until he was elected president. Most recently, Hafiz Uddin Ahmad assumed the presidential functions after Mohammed Shahabuddin resigned on 24 July 2026.[5][10]

Bangladesh has not had a vice-president since the Twelfth Amendment restored the parliamentary system and abolished that office in 1991.[11]

Impeachment and immunity

Under Article 52, parliament may impeach the president for violating the Constitution or for grave misconduct. The process begins with a notice signed by a majority of all MPs. The president has the right to appear and be represented during consideration of the charge. Removal requires the votes of at least two-thirds of the total membership of parliament.[7]

Article 51 gives the president immunity from court proceedings for official acts while in office. Criminal proceedings cannot be instituted or continued against a sitting president, and no court may order the president's arrest or imprisonment during the term of office.[2]

Residence and security

The president's official residence and principal office is Bangabhaban in Dhaka. Uttara Ganabhaban in Natore is also used as a presidential retreat.

The President Guard Regiment and the Special Security Force provide security for the president.

History

Provisional government and first parliamentary system (1971–1975)

The office originated during the Bangladesh Liberation War. The Provisional Government of Bangladesh named Sheikh Mujibur Rahman president in April 1971 while he was imprisoned in West Pakistan. Vice-president Syed Nazrul Islam exercised the president's powers as acting president during the war.[12]

After Mujib returned to Bangladesh in January 1972, the Provisional Constitution Order changed the country to a parliamentary system. Mujib became prime minister and Abu Sayeed Chowdhury became president. The Constitution that took effect on 16 December 1972 continued the parliamentary system and made the presidency largely ceremonial.[13]

Presidential system (1975–1991)

The Fourth Amendment, adopted in January 1975, replaced the parliamentary system with a presidential one and concentrated executive authority in the presidency. Sheikh Mujibur Rahman became president and later established Bangladesh Krishak Sramik Awami League (BAKSAL) as the country's sole legal political organisation.[13]

Mujib was assassinated in the 15 August 1975 Bangladesh coup d'état. The following years saw coups, martial law and successive presidencies, including those of Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem, Ziaur Rahman, Abdus Sattar and Hussain Muhammad Ershad. Zia was elected president in 1978, while Ershad took power in a military coup in 1982 and became president in 1983.

Ershad resigned in December 1990 after a mass anti-government movement. Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed then served as acting president during the transition to parliamentary government.

Parliamentary system since 1991

The Twelfth Amendment, passed in August 1991 and approved by referendum, restored the parliamentary system. The prime minister again became the head of government, the president became the constitutional head of state and the vice-presidency was abolished.[11]

The Thirteenth Amendment of 1996 introduced a non-party caretaker government for election periods and gave the president a greater role during those administrations. The caretaker system was abolished by the Fifteenth Amendment in 2011.

The presidency became unusually important during the political crisis of August 2024 after Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina resigned and left the country. President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed Muhammad Yunus as chief adviser of an interim government after seeking an advisory opinion from the Supreme Court. The interim administration remained in office until an elected government took office in February 2026.

Shahabuddin resigned on 24 July 2026, citing health problems.[5] Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad then acted as president under Article 54. Parliament elected Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on 20 August; he was sworn in on 21 August 2026.[3][4]

See also

Notes

References

  1. ↑ "The President's (Remuneration and Privileges) Act, 1975" (PDF). Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh: Part IV, Chapter I". Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  3. 1 2 3 "Bangladesh elects ruling party veteran Alamgir as president". Reuters. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  4. 1 2 "Mirza Fakhrul takes oath as 23rd President". Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha. 21 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 "Bangladesh's President Shahabuddin, 76, resigns citing health concerns". Reuters. 24 July 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  6. ↑ "July Charter proposes expanding authority: Will the President's powers increase?". Prothom Alo. 21 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "The Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh". Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  8. ↑ "The Jahangirnagar University Act, 1973". Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  9. ↑ "Bangladesh elects veteran politician Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir as president". Associated Press. 20 August 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  10. ↑ "Gazette published on Shahabuddin's resignation". The Daily Star. 25 July 2026. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  11. 1 2 "Constitutional Amendments". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  12. ↑ "Constitutional Development". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
  13. 1 2 "Constitution". Banglapedia. Asiatic Society of Bangladesh. Retrieved 26 August 2026.
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