Ex-president, who oversaw Bangladesh’s democratic transition, dies at 92

Dhaka, Mar 19 (EFE).– Former president Shahabuddin Ahmed, who was instrumental in Bangladesh’s transition to democracy after years of military rule, died of old age complications Saturday at a Dhaka hospital, his family said. He was 92.

Shahabuddin’s son-in-law Ahaduzzaman Mohammad Ali told EFE that the former head of the state passed away around 10.20 am at Dhaka’s Combined Military Hospital.

Shahabuddin, the then chief justice, took over as acting president of the country in December 1990 after military ruler Hussain Mohammad Ershad stepped down.

As the head of caretaker government, he oversaw the election in 1991, which elected Khaleda Zia as Bangladesh’s first head of democratic government after military ruling for one-and-half decades.

Shahabuddin returned to his position as chief justice after the election. He retired in 1995.

He was elected as president unopposed in 1996 and served until 2001 during Sheikh Hasina’s first term as Bangladesh prime minister.

Khaleda and Hasina led Bangladesh in the past three decades except for a brief military ruling between 2007 and 2009. EFE

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