Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has announced his resignation following a dramatic protest outside the Supreme Court on Saturday. According to The Daily Star, demonstrators encircled the court and demanded his resignation within an hour. They threatened to storm the homes of the judges if their demands were not met.
In a statement, Bangladesh Chief Justice Hassan explained that his decision to resign was made to ensure the safety of both the Supreme Court and lower court judges nationwide. He plans to submit his resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin by Saturday evening.
The protests erupted after it was revealed that the Chief Justice had called for a full-court meeting. Hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, converged on the Supreme Court, prompting the deployment of army personnel for protection.
Bangladesh Chief Justice to Resign
Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan is set to resign following a major protest in Dhaka. On Saturday, hundreds of demonstrators surrounded the Supreme Court, demanding that Chief Justice Hassan and other Appellate Division judges step down by 1 pm local time.
Obaidul Hassan will officially submit his resignation after consulting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin later in the evening, according to The Dhaka Tribune. The decision came after protesters assembled at the court.
The Daily Star reported that the protesters warned they would take further action, including surrounding the judges’ homes, if their demands were not met by the deadline.
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Protester Claims Chief Justice Conspiring Against Interim Government
Abdul Muqaddim, a protester, has made serious accusations that the Bangladesh Chief Justice is involved in a plan to make the interim government appear illegal.
Muqaddim told The Daily Star, “The extremists are trying to use the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice to make the interim government seem unlawful. We came here to the Supreme Court to push for the Chief Justice to step down.”
In response, Asif Nazrul, who advises the interim government on legal matters, brought up several controversies about Obaidul Hassan. Nazrul mentioned that Hassan had stayed at the homes of several leaders from the Awami League during his visits abroad, which raised questions about his actions.
Violent Protests Lead to Government Shake-Up in Bangladesh
Asif Mahmud, adviser to the Sports Ministry of the interim government, has called for Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan to resign unconditionally and for the cancellation of the scheduled full court meeting.
In response to the growing unrest, the Chief Justice has delayed the judges’ meeting, according to reports.
The situation in the neighboring country spiraled out of control when students protested against a controversial quota system that allocated up to 30% of government jobs to the families of 1971 war veterans. In reaction to the protests, the Supreme Court reduced the job quotas to 5%.
However, the protests intensified, with demonstrators now demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina. The violence resulting from these protests has caused over 500 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
On Monday, Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled the country. An interim government, led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus, has taken over.
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Bangladesh Chief Justice to Resign FAQs
Q.1. Why did Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resign?
Ans. Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned following a large protest outside the Supreme Court, where demonstrators demanded his resignation and threatened further actions if their demands were not met.
Q.2. What triggered the protests against Chief Justice Hassan?
Ans. The protests were triggered by Chief Justice Hassan’s call for a full-court meeting and accusations that he was conspiring against the interim government. Demonstrators also had issues with job quota systems.
Q.3. What were the demands of the protesters?
Ans. Protesters demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and other Appellate Division judges, threatening to storm judges’ homes if their demands were not met by the deadline.
Q.4. What was the outcome of the protests in Bangladesh?
Ans. The protests led to Chief Justice Hassan’s resignation, the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina, and the formation of a new interim government led by Nobel Peace Prize winner Muhammad Yunus.
Q.5. How did the protests impact Bangladesh’s government?
Ans. The protests led to significant political changes, including the resignation of Prime Minister Hasina and the appointment of an interim government headed by Muhammad Yunus.
