National Parliament Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmed began performing the duties of head of state after President Md Sahabuddin resigned, according to an announcement made on Friday afternoon at the National Parliament Secretariat. Hafiz Uddin, now acting president, said the deputy speaker will perform the speaker’s duties in parliament while he carries out the presidential role.

Hafiz Uddin said Md Sahabuddin submitted his resignation letter to him. He assumed the presidential responsibilities under Article 54 of the Constitution, he said. After accepting the resignation, instructions were issued to preserve it in the National Parliament Secretariat’s records and take the necessary administrative steps.

Addressing the transfer of parliamentary duties, Hafiz Uddin said he had also taken an oath to serve as acting president if necessary on the day he was sworn in as speaker. He said the deputy speaker’s oath similarly provides that the deputy speaker will perform the speaker’s duties if the speaker’s post becomes vacant or the speaker is absent from duty.