Former President Mohammed Sahabuddin left Bangabhaban with his family on Sunday, a day after resigning from office, bringing his stay at the presidential residence to an end.
He departed the official residence at around 2.25pm in a motorcade that included the vehicle he used as president and 18 vehicles belonging to various law-enforcement agencies. His departure attracted considerable attention, with a large number of journalists and camera crews gathering outside Bangabhaban from before noon to cover the development.
Curious members of the public also assembled in the surrounding area to witness the former president’s departure. Security was tightened around Bangabhaban, and members of law-enforcement agencies maintained a visible presence outside the premises from the early afternoon.
After leaving Bangabhaban, Sahabuddin is expected to move to his private residence on Road 123 in Gulshan, Dhaka. Preparations had already begun at the property ahead of his return. On Saturday, the sitting area on the ground floor was reportedly repainted, while furniture and other household items were cleaned and rearranged.
Sahabuddin had lived in a flat on the fifth floor of the same building before becoming president. Security measures around the Gulshan residence were strengthened ahead of his arrival. Police, the Rapid Action Battalion and other law-enforcement personnel were seen in the area from Sunday morning, while surveillance was also increased around the property to ensure his security.
With Sahabuddin’s departure from Bangabhaban, responsibility for carrying out the official duties of the presidency will rest with Acting President Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. However, rather than operating from Bangabhaban, he is expected to discharge his responsibilities from the official residence of the Speaker of the National Parliament.
The change in the presidency followed Sahabuddin’s resignation. On Friday afternoon, he sent a signed resignation letter to Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed. After receiving the letter, the Speaker formally announced the development at a press conference held in the oath-taking room of the Parliament building. He also declared that he would assume the responsibilities of acting president in accordance with the constitutional provisions.
Sahabuddin cited ill health as the reason for stepping down. His resignation came well before the completion of the five-year constitutional term for which he had been elected. He was elected unopposed with the nomination of the Awami League and took oath as Bangladesh’s 22nd president on 24 April 2023. His term had been expected to continue until April 2028, meaning he left office roughly 21 months before the scheduled completion of his tenure.
His departure from Bangabhaban marks a significant administrative transition following the change in the country’s presidency. The official functions associated with the office will now be conducted under the leadership of the acting president, while Sahabuddin’s residence and security arrangements will shift from the presidential compound to his private home in Gulshan.
The former president’s departure also drew substantial public and media interest. Journalists and camera crews remained stationed outside Bangabhaban as his motorcade prepared to leave, while security personnel continued to maintain heightened vigilance after the convoy departed.
At the same time, additional security arrangements remained in place around his Gulshan residence. As a result, heightened law-enforcement activity was visible in two strategically important parts of the capital—Bangabhaban and Gulshan—during the transition following Sahabuddin’s resignation.
