- Bangladesh news: Hundreds of student protesters have surrounded the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice and others
In Short
- Hundreds of protesters surround Supreme Court in Dhaka
- Protesters warn of storming residences of judges
- Chief Justice says he quit considering safety of judges
Days after former Prime Minister and Awami League chief Sheikh Hasina was forced into exile following a student-led uprising, leading to her escape from Bangladesh, hundreds of student protesters on Saturday, August 10, gheraoed the Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of all judges, including Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan.
The protesters have reportedly given one hour to the Supreme Court judges to resign. The protesters have warned the Supreme Court judges that their residences would be besieged if they fail to resign before the deadline.
Reports suggest that the Chief Justice, suspecting escalation in tensions, may have left the building, with hundreds of protesters marching and surrounding the Supreme Court.
The protesters also included lawyers that has gathered outside the Supreme Court.
Just In: The Chief Justice has he had agreed to resign “in principle” after an ultimatum to do so from protesters. Obaidul Hassan, seen as a loyalist to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year.
Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank governor Abdur Rouf Talukder, too, has resigned. His resignation came days after the protesters stormed the central bank’s headquarters amid political upheaval in the country. Abdur Talukder resigned as the governor on Friday, August 9, citing “personal reasons”.
THE END TO HASINA'S RULE
Sheikh Hasina, 76-year-old three time premier of Bangladesh, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India on Monday, August 5, as thousands marched towards her residence in Dhaka. Storming the streets in thousands, the protesters later stormed her official residence, Ganabhaban.
The dramatoc scenes showed protesters feeding on the food at the former prime minister's house, swimming in her pool and looting valuables such as her sarees, animals, mattresses and everything they could put their hands on.
More than 450 people were killed in the unrest leading up to Hasina's departure, including dozens of police officers killed during clampdowns on demonstrations. The caretaker administration Yunus helms has said that restoration of law and order is its “first priority”.
In Short
- Hundreds of protesters surround Supreme Court in Dhaka
- Protesters warn of storming residences of judges
- Chief Justice says he quit considering safety of judges
Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan on Saturday resigned from his post after protesters surrounded the Supreme Court and gave him an ultimatum to quit within an hour. The country's Parliamentary affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul confirmed the development and said the Chief Justice's resignation has reached the Law Ministry, Bangladesh newspaper The Daily Star reported.
The protesters had warned that they would storm the residences of the judges of the top court and the Chief Justice if they failed to resign.
"I feel it is necessary to share a special news with you. Our chief justice has resigned few minutes back. His resignation letter has already reached at the law ministry. We will send it to the president without delay for taking necessary measures," Asif Nazrul said in a video message in his Facebook post.
The Chief Justice told the media he had decided to step down considering the safety of the judges of the top court and lower courts across the country.
The fresh protests started after news emerged that the Chief Justice had summoned a full-court meeting. Hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, marched towards the Supreme Court and occupied its premises. Army personnel were also deployed to protect the Supreme Court.
A protester, Abdul Muqaddim, claimed a conspiracy was being hatched by the chief justice to declare the interim government illegal.
"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," Muqaddim told The Daily Star.
Asif Nazrul, law adviser to the interim government, said there were multiple controversies surrounding Obaidul Hassan, and he allegedly stayed at the residences of various Awami League leaders when he went abroad.
Asif Mahmud, the adviser to the Sports Ministry of the interim government, also demanded the "unconditional resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan" and cancellation of the full court meeting.
Amid the tensions, the Chief Justice postponed the meeting of the judges, the report said.
Chaos gripped the neighbouring country after students started a protest over a controversial quota system that reserved up to 30 per cent of government jobs for family members of 1971 war veterans. As the protests gained momentum, the Supreme Court cut the job quotas to 5%.
However, the protests subsequently took a different turn, with agitators demanding Hasina's resignation. The ensuing violence has left over 500 people dead and hundreds more injured.
On Monday, Hasina resigned as Bangladesh Prime Minister and fled the country. An interim government has been formed under Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus.
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