Bangladesh’s Chief Justice, Obaidul Hassan, has agreed “in principle” to resign following mounting pressure from protesters at the Supreme Court, according to reports from Jamuna TV. The 65-year-old judge is expected to submit his resignation after consulting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin this evening, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune.
The protests began after Chief Justice Hassan called for a full court meeting with all justices from both divisions of the Supreme Court. This move was viewed as a judicial coup by the protesting students, who then announced a siege of the High Court premises.
In response to the student protest, Chief Justice Hassan postponed the meeting and later announced his intention to step down. Hassan, who was appointed last year and is perceived as a loyalist to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was given a one-hour ultimatum to resign.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder has also submitted his resignation, although it has not been accepted due to the importance of the position, according to finance ministry adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. Previously, four deputy governors were compelled to resign following allegations of corruption by 300 to 400 bank officials.
These protests are part of wider unrest that led to Hasina’s departure and have resulted in over 450 deaths, including dozens of police officers. Hasina is facing allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering, and corruption and is being called to face the law by Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
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In addition, the police union has declared a strike, refusing to return to work until their safety is assured, further complicating the situation. Hasina has been seeking shelter in New Delhi since Monday and intends to return to the country to participate in elections.
Furthermore, this week has seen the vandalism of numerous homes and businesses belonging to the country’s minority Hindu community, prompting hundreds of them in northwest Bangladesh to attempt to flee to neighbouring India.
Muhammad Yunus, Bangladesh’s interim leader and Nobel laureate, has appealed for religious unity while comforting the grieving mother of a student who was shot dead by police. This incident became a flashpoint in the mass protests that led to Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule coming to an end.
Yunus’ foremost task is to bring stability to Bangladesh after responding to a call by student protesters to temporarily lead the country following weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations against the government led by Sheikh Hasina.
