Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan Forced to Resign Amid Intense Protests
Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has resigned from his position following intense protests and an ultimatum from demonstrators. The protests erupted when the Chief Justice summoned a full-court meeting, leading to a mass occupation of the Supreme Court premises by students, lawyers, and other activists.
The protesters had given Chief Justice Hassan just one hour to step down or face an invasion of the residences of both him and the Supreme Court judges. Asif Nazrul, the country’s Parliamentary affairs Adviser, confirmed the resignation, stating that Hassan’s resignation letter had been delivered to the Law Ministry and would soon be forwarded to the President for necessary action.
In a video message on Facebook, Nazrul emphasized the urgency of the situation: “Our Chief Justice has resigned a few minutes ago. His resignation letter has already reached the Law Ministry. We will forward it to the President without delay.”
Chief Justice Hassan cited concerns for the safety of judges across the country as the primary reason for his resignation. The situation escalated after news broke about the Chief Justice’s plan to hold a full-court meeting. This led to a significant increase in public demonstrations, with protesters accusing Hassan of attempting to undermine the interim government.
Protester Abdul Muqaddim alleged that a conspiracy was underway, suggesting that the Chief Justice intended to declare the interim government illegal. He stated, “The fascists are trying to use the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice to declare the interim government illegal. That’s why we came to the Supreme Court premises to force the Chief Justice to resign.”
Asif Mahmud, the interim government’s Sports Ministry adviser, also called for Hassan’s “unconditional resignation” and demanded the cancellation of the full-court meeting.
The protests in Bangladesh have been fueled by broader political unrest. The initial demonstrations centered around a controversial quota system that reserved up to 30% of government jobs for family members of 1971 war veterans. The Supreme Court’s decision to reduce these quotas to 5% did little to quell the unrest.
As the protests continued, the focus shifted to demands for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s resignation. The violence that followed has resulted in over 500 deaths and numerous injuries. On Monday, Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled the country, leading to the formation of an interim government under Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.
The resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan marks a significant development in the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh, reflecting the deepening divisions and unrest within the country.
