President Mohammed Shahabuddin has decided to step down but is waiting for Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad to return before tendering his resignation, officials at Bangabhaban and a source close to the president say.
The speaker left for Thailand for medical treatment on Jul 19 and is due back on Jul 26, although officials say he may return earlier.
The President's Press Secretary Sarwar Alam told bdnews24.com on Thursday, "He has not yet signed the resignation letter. We will inform you if he resigns."
"The person to whom he must submit it is not in the country. So there is no opportunity to resign now," a senior Bangabhaban official said, adding that the president had already decided to step down, whether for health or personal reasons.
A source close to Shahabuddin said he had told officials he could leave Bangabhaban within the next few days.
Under Article 50(3) of the Constitution, the president resigns by submitting a signed letter to the speaker. Article 54 provides that the speaker acts as president until a successor is elected.
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