President of Bangladesh facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids President of the People's Republic of Bangladesh
Standard of the president of Bangladesh
Seal of the president of Bangladesh
Incumbent Mohammed Shahabuddin since 24 April 2023
Head of state of the People's Republic of Bangladesh Executive branch of the Government of Bangladesh
Style	Mr. President (informal) The Honorable (formal) His Excellency (diplomatic)
Abbreviation	POB
Residence	Bangabhaban
Appointer	All Members of Parliament
Term length	Five years, renewable once
Precursor	Governor of East Pakistan
Inaugural holder	Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Formation	17 April 1971; 54 years ago (1971-04-17)
Deputy	Vice President of Bangladesh
Salary	৳4140000 (US$44,000) per year (incl. allowances)

The President of Bangladesh (POB) is the official head of state for Bangladesh. This means they are the top leader of the country. The president is also the commander-in-chief of the Bangladesh Armed Forces, leading all military branches.

The president's role has changed a lot since Bangladesh became independent in 1971. At first, presidents had a lot of power. But in 1991, Bangladesh became a parliamentary democracy, like the UK. Now, the president's job is mostly ceremonial. This means they perform important duties but don't make many daily decisions.

However, in 1996, new laws gave the president more power when Parliament is not active. The president lives and works at the Bangabhaban. Members of Parliament (MPs) elect the president through an open vote. Usually, the person from the majority party in Parliament becomes president. A president serves for five years. They stay in office until a new president is chosen.

Mohammed Shahabuddin is the current president. He was elected without anyone opposing him on February 13, 2023. He started his five-year term on April 24, 2023.

What the President Does

Even though the president's position is very important on paper, their actual powers are mostly ceremonial. The Constitution says the president must act only on the advice of the prime minister and their Cabinet.

Appointing Key People

The president has the power to appoint several important officials:

The prime minister and their Cabinet members. The prime minister must be an MP who has the support of most of Parliament. The president can also remove a Cabinet member if the prime minister asks.
The chief justice and other judges for the courts.
The Bangladesh Election Commission, including its chief.

Power to Grant Pardons

The president has a special power called the "prerogative of mercy." This means they can grant a pardon to anyone. A pardon can override any court decision in Bangladesh.

Lawmaking Powers

The president can refuse to approve a bill passed by Parliament. They can send it back for review. A bill only becomes law after the president approves it. However, if Parliament passes the bill again, it will automatically become law after a certain time, even if the president doesn't approve it again.

Head of Universities

The president of Bangladesh is also the chancellor (a ceremonial head) of universities in Bangladesh. This is usually the case for private universities under the Private Universities Act of 1992. For public universities, it's a tradition to name the president as chancellor, even if it's not always written in law.

How a President is Chosen

Who Can Be President?

The Constitution of Bangladesh lists the main rules for someone to become president:

They must be at least 35 years old.
They must be qualified to be a member of Parliament.
They must not have been removed from the president's office by impeachment.

Rules for the President

There are also rules about serving as president:

No person can be president for more than two terms. These terms don't have to be one after another.
The president cannot be a member of Parliament. If an MP is elected president, they must leave their seat in Parliament on the day they become president.

The Election Process

When the president's office becomes empty, the new president is chosen by the members of Parliament. While MPs do vote, they usually vote for the candidate their political party supports. The president can be removed from office through impeachment. This requires a two-thirds majority vote from Parliament.

Taking the Oath

The president must take an oath in front of the Speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad. In this oath, they promise to protect and defend the Constitution.

I, (name), do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully discharge the duties of the office of President of Bangladesh according to law:

That I will bear true faith and allegiance to Bangladesh:

That I will preserve, protect and defend the Constitution:

And that I will do right to all manner of people according to law, without fear or favour, affection or ill-will"

– Article 148, Constitution of Bangladesh

President's Protection

Immunity

The president has special protection from being held responsible for their actions while in office. This means no criminal charges can be brought against them in court. The only way this protection can be removed is if Parliament decides to impeach the president.

What Happens if the President Can't Serve?

Succession

If the president is absent due to illness or other reasons, the speaker of the Jatiya Sangsad acts as the president. They serve until the president can return to office. This happened when Speaker Jamiruddin Sircar became acting president after former president A. Q. M. Badruddoza Chowdhury resigned. It also happened when President Zillur Rahman was ill and later passed away.

Bangladesh is a parliamentary system, so it doesn't have a vice-president. In the past, during a presidential system of government, Bangladesh did have a vice-president who would take over. But this position was removed in 1991.

How a President Can Be Removed

A president can resign by writing a letter to the speaker. The president can also be removed by Parliament through impeachment. If Parliament wants to impeach the president, they must state specific reasons. They can investigate these reasons themselves or ask another group to investigate. The president has the right to defend themselves. If two-thirds of Parliament votes to impeach, the president is immediately removed, and the speaker takes over.

Where the President Lives and Works

The main home and office of the president is the Bangabhaban in Dhaka. There is also another presidential palace called Uttara Ganabhaban in Natore District.

Presidential amenities
Bangabhaban, official residence of the president, located at Dhaka.
Uttara Ganabhaban, the official retreat of the president located in North Bengal.
President Guard Regiment, responsible for the security of the president.
Special Security Force, provide physical security to the president and prime minister.
Biman Bangladesh Airlines Boeing 777-300ER, main presidential aircraft used by the president.

History of the Office

Early Years (1971–1975)

When the war for independence began in April 1971, the Provisional Government of Bangladesh was formed. This government-in-exile set up its base in Kolkata, India.

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman

Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was the first official president of Bangladesh. He was a very popular leader in the independence movement. He was imprisoned shortly after the declaration of independence. While he was in prison, Syed Nazrul Islam served as acting president, and Tajuddin Ahmad was the prime minister.

After the war ended, Mujibur Rahman became prime minister in 1972. He changed the government to a parliamentary system, where the prime minister holds most of the power. In 1973, Mohammad Mohammadullah became the ceremonial head of state.

Mujibur Rahman is known as the "Father of the Nation" for Bangladesh. He is also called Bangabandhu ("Friend of Bengal"). He focused on four main ideas for Bangladesh: nationalism, secularism (separation of religion and government), democracy, and socialism (fair sharing of wealth). He worked to help millions of refugees and improve education, health, and basic services. He also helped Bangladesh join the United Nations.

However, his time as prime minister faced many challenges. The country was recovering from war and a severe cyclone. There were also economic problems.

Presidential System and One-Party Rule (1975)

In 1975, Mujibur Rahman decided that the parliamentary system wasn't working well. He changed the constitution to bring back the presidential system. He became president again and created a one-party state, meaning only one political party was allowed. He limited freedom of speech and the press.

Military and Democratic Presidents (1975–1991)

In August 1975, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was assassinated in a military takeover. Khondaker Mostaq Ahmad, one of his close associates, became president. Soon after, martial law (military rule) was put in place.

Later, Chief Justice Abu Sadat Mohammad Sayem became president, leading a military interim government.

Ziaur Rahman

Major General Ziaur Rahman, a war hero, became a key figure. In 1977, he became acting president. He was later directly elected president in 1978. His party, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), won a majority in the 1979 election.

Ziaur Rahman changed the country's direction. He changed the constitution to include "absolute trust and faith in Almighty Allah," moving away from secularism. He also promoted "Bangladeshi nationalism," which included all groups in Bangladesh, not just Bengalis. He worked to improve Bangladesh's relationships with other countries, especially Muslim nations and China. He also helped create SAARC, a group for South Asian cooperation.

In 1981, Ziaur Rahman was assassinated. His vice-president, Justice Abdus Sattar, became acting president and was later elected. However, in 1982, Army Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. H.M. Ershad took power in a peaceful military takeover.

Hussain Muhammad Ershad

Like earlier leaders, Ershad dissolved Parliament and declared martial law. He became president in December 1983. He created his own political party, the Jatiyo Party. He was elected president in October 1986.

By 1990, many people were protesting Ershad's rule. He resigned in December 1990. An interim government was formed, led by Chief Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed as acting president. This government held an election in 1991. The BNP, led by Khaleda Zia (Ziaur Rahman's widow), won the most seats. A public vote in September 1991 brought back the parliamentary system, giving most executive power back to the prime minister.

Return to Parliamentary System (1991—Present)

In 1991, Bangladesh returned to a democratic parliamentary system. Khaleda Zia became the first female prime minister of Bangladesh.

Today, the president is the head of state, and their role is mostly ceremonial. However, the president's powers become much stronger during a caretaker government. This special government is in charge of holding elections and transferring power peacefully. Caretaker governments are made up of non-political people and usually last for three months. Bangladesh was a pioneer in using this system, making it official in 1996.

During a caretaker government, the president has control over the Ministry of Defence. They can declare a state of emergency and can dismiss the chief adviser and other members of the caretaker government. Once elections are over and a new government is in place, the president's powers return to their mostly ceremonial role.