The vice-president was the first person in the presidential line of succession, in the event of a president's resignation, removal or death.

The office was first created in the 1971 Provisional Government of Bangladesh but abolished after the war when the new constitution founded a parliamentary republic.

It was however reinstated only 3 years later in 1975 through the fourth amendment to the constitution which revived the presidential system as part of founding father Sheikh Mujibur Rahman's "Second Revolution" reforms.

Another coup in 1982 vacated the post again all through the military government of Lieutenant General Hussain Muhammad Ershad until elections in 1986.

The post was finally dissolved in the 1991 interim government by acting President Shahabuddin Ahmed after a constitutional referendum put into effect the twelfth amendment, which restored the parliamentary system.