Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan to Resign Amidst Massive Protests
- Posted on August 10, 2024
- News
- By Arijit Dutta
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Bangladesh's Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan is expected to resign following widespread protests demanding his departure. Demonstrators, gathering at the Supreme Court in Dhaka, issued an ultimatum for Hassan and other judges to step down. The protests follow the ousting and exile of former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina amidst accusations of human rights abuses.
Bangladesh's Chief Justice, Obaidul Hassan, is set to resign following intense protests outside the Supreme Court in Dhaka. On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators, including students and lawyers, surrounded the court premises, demanding the immediate resignation of Hassan and other judges of the Appellate Division. The protestors, who began gathering around 10:30 AM local time, issued an ultimatum for the judges to step down by 1 PM.
The resignation decision, expected to be formalized after consultation with President Mohammed Shahabuddin later in the evening, marks a significant moment in Bangladesh's turbulent political landscape. Hassan, who was appointed to lead the Supreme Court last year, has been viewed as a staunch loyalist to the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
Sheikh Hasina, who fled Bangladesh on Monday amid widespread protests, had long been criticized for her government's alleged human rights abuses, including the extrajudicial killing of political opponents. Her sudden departure, and now the likely resignation of the Chief Justice, signal a dramatic shift in the country's power dynamics.
Also Read: Bangladesh News: Interim Government Headed by Muhammad Yunus to be Sworn In Amid Unrest
Asif Mahmud, an adviser to the Youth and Sports Ministry under the interim government, amplified the calls for Hassan's resignation, taking to social media to demand the chief justice's immediate and unconditional exit. Protestors have also threatened to escalate their actions by besieging the residences of the judges if their demands are not met.
In response to the growing unrest, Hassan postponed a crucial full court meeting initially scheduled to determine the court's ongoing operations, reflecting the mounting pressure on the judiciary amidst the national crisis.
