Former president Mohammed Shahabuddin said he resigned voluntarily after months of considering the decision, describing his life at Bangabhaban as restrictive.
“I resigned without any pressure,” Shahabuddin told The Daily Star after submitting his resignation letter to the speaker. “Being free from it is my biggest gain at this moment.”
Shahabuddin, who had one year and nine months remaining in his five-year term, said restrictions on his movement had caused mental strain.
He defended his handling of the fall of the Awami League government, formation of an interim administration and establishment of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government. Shahabuddin said he acted within the constitution while administering oaths to three governments and dissolving parliament after the uprising.
He rejected criticism of his conduct as “completely baseless” and said he plans to resume writing, recalling his early career as a journalist.