Bangladesh Chief Justice to resign after protesters gave him 'one hour to step down'

The Chief Justice of Bangladesh has decided to step down from his post as calls for his resignation grew on Saturday. Student protesters had set an ultimatum for Obaidul Hassan to relinquish his post as the head of the judiciary body.

Hassan, who was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, was told to step down by protesters who gathered outside the court in the capital Dhaka.

Talking to reporters at the Supreme Court premises, Hassan said that he had taken the call to resign considering the safety of lawyers.

“There are some formalities for the resignation. Completing those, I will send my resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin by this evening,” he said.

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Protesters from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement demanded the resignation of the chief justice, giving him an ultimatum. Failure to abide by it would lead to a “besiege of his and judges’ residences”, one demonstrator said.

Calls for Hassan’s and judges of the Appellate Division’s resignation intensified days after former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina fled Dhaka.

Lawyers aligned with Khaleda Zia’s Bangladesh National Party (BNP) even led a protest march under the banner of “Lawyers Against Discrimination Coordination Council." During the demonstrations, the lawyers demanded the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and all justices of the Appellate Division.

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Former president of the Dhaka Bar Advocate Mohsin Mia, former president Khorhshed Alam, former general secretary Omar Faruq Faruqi, former general secretary Khorhshed Mia Alam and hundreds of other lawyers took part in the protests, according to a report by Dhaka Tribune.

“The chief justice, justices of the Appellate Division, and any other judges who have violated their oath of impartial justice to implement the agenda of the Awami League government must resign within 24 hours. Otherwise, we will initiate a strong movement against them,” Mia said.