Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin will resign on Friday, clearing the last senior state official closely associated with ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina from office just months before she plans to return from exile.
Shahabuddin's resignation comes days after Hasina told Reuters she intended to return to Bangladesh around December and surrender following her conviction by a war crimes tribunal.
The president's spokesperson, Sarwar Alam, said Shahabuddin would submit his resignation to Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad upon the speaker's return from Thailand on Friday.
"According to the Constitution, the president's resignation becomes effective upon submission of a signed letter to the speaker," Alam said.
Under Bangladesh's Constitution, the parliamentary speaker will serve as acting president until lawmakers elect a successor.
