Shahabuddin Ahmed - Caretaker Government (1991)

Caretaker Government (1991)

After the resignation of President Lt. General (Retd.) Hussain Muhammad Ershad on 6 December 1990, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh who was appointed Vice President earlier on the day took over as the Acting President of the country. Immediately upon taking over the office of the highest executive, Shahabuddin placed his predecessor under arrest. Justice Shahabuddin was chosen by all political parties including Ershad to hold interim government that would oversee the period of a free, fair and neutral election to Parliament.

As President, Shahabuddin Ahmed administered the oath of office to his Council of Advisors at Bangabhaban on 9 December 1990 and held the first meeting on 15 December 1990. After the fifth JS elections held on 27 February 1991, Shahabuddin Ahmed returned to his original post as the Chief Justice of the SC of Bangladesh. Bangladesh switched from Presidential to Parliamentary form of Government. He retired on 1 February 1995. On 23 July 1996, he was selected the President of the country unopposed, and took oath of office on 9 October 1996.

HM Ershad challenged the action of Shahabuddin Ahmed to arrest him, which went all the up to the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. On a ruling by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Ershad's arrest by the caretaker government led by Justice Shahabuddin Ahmed was declared illegal. Ershad was in jail from 1991 to 1996.

At the time of the declaration by the country's apex court in March 1998 he was the president select of Bangladesh by the Awami League government. Bangladesh switched to parliamentary form of government after the election in 1991; the President became only a ceremonial figure.

He completely stayed away from public or political life after his second tenure of Presidency expired.