Former president Mohammed Shahabuddin said he resigned of his own accord, describing life at Bangabhaban as restrictive and saying he now felt free.

“I resigned without any pressure… It was a very restricted life. Being free from it is my biggest gain at this moment,” Shahabuddin, who resigned yesterday, told The Daily Star during a 12-minute WhatsApp call, four hours after submitting his resignation letter to the Speaker.

“I had been thinking about resigning for a long time. I was under mental strain because I could not move freely from one place to another,” he said.

Shahabuddin had one year and nine months remaining in his five-year term.

In his resignation letter, he reflected on the defining crises of his presidency -- the fall of the Awami League government, the formation of the interim government and the subsequent formation of the BNP government.

He said he was proud of the role he played in steering the country through the crisis while upholding the constitution and the democratic process.

“I administered the oath to three governments. I administered the oath to the government that made me president. Then came the interim government. I not only administered the oath, but also appointed them. I appointed the chief adviser and the other advisers.

“I felt comfortable doing this because I was not violating the constitution… I feel proud of myself for this. I was able to help the country overcome a crisis.

“Because of that, the national election was held. All the parties took part in it, and now there is a parliament, a government and an opposition. The government is now following democratic practices, and I feel proud of myself for this. I was able to do it.”

Rejecting criticism over his appointment during Sheikh Hasina’s rule, allegations that he granted unethical favours to a business organisation, and questions about his role during the July uprising, Shahabuddin called the claims “completely baseless.”

“I am a very fair man... Anyone can write anything. It is now easy to assassinate someone’s character on social media,” he said.

Asked about his role during the uprising, Shahabuddin said the president must act within the constitution and should not issue orders that cannot be enforced.

“If no one follows my order, and if the armed forces do not follow it, the order will be ineffective. A president should not issue an order that will be ineffective,” he said.

“I have to be sure that those responsible for carrying out my order will do so. If they didn’t, why would I take that responsibility?”

Shahabuddin said he dissolved parliament after the uprising, saying it removed uncertainty and protected the state under the constitution.

“I did it so that there would be no ambiguity or uncertainty. Dissolving parliament meant the cabinet was gone and parliament was gone. I had secured the state to that extent,” he said.

“I feel proud of myself because I was able to do it. Another major reason was that the armed forces came forward to support me at that time.”

Shahabuddin said he planned to return to writing, recalling his early career in journalism.

“At the beginning of my professional life, I was a journalist. I have had the habit of writing since then. I will now continue that practice,” he said.