Bangladesh chief justice to ‘resign’ as hundreds of protesters gherao Supreme Court, give ultimatum

Chief Justice of Bangladesh Obaidul Hassan was appointed to helm Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted PM Sheikh Hasina.

Updated on: Aug 10, 2024, 13:09:08 IST

By HT News Desk

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Chief Justice of Bangladesh Obaidul Hassan reportedly decided to resign after hundreds of protesters on Saturday surrounded the Supreme Court premises in the capital Dhaka and issued an ultimatum to the CJ and other judges of the Appellate Division to step down by 1pm (local time).

Sheikh Hasina resigned and the PM and fled Bangladesh on Monday amid nationwide violent protests (AP Photo)

Obaidul Hassan will tender his resignation after consulting President Mohammed Shahabuddin on evening, The Dhaka Tribune reported. The chief justice of Bangladesh revealed the decision on Saturday midday after protesters gathered at the court premises.

The Daily Star reported that the protesters had threatened that they would besiege judges' residences, if they fail to resign before the deadline.

Also Read | Did Sheikh Hasina’s leaning towards China cause her downfall?

Around 10:30am, several hundred protesters, including students and lawyers, started gathering on the Supreme Court premises, demanding resignation of the chief justice and the judges of the Appellate Division.

Earlier in the morning, Asif Mahmud, the adviser of Youth and Sports Ministry of the Interim government, posted on the Facebook, demanding unconditional resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and stop the full court meeting.

Amid the protest, the chief justice of Bangladesh postponed the full court meeting of the Supeme Court judges, which was convened to decide whether the function of the court will go on virtually.

Obaidul Hassan was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Sheikh Hasina, 76, fled by helicopter to neighbouring India on Monday as protesters flooded Dhaka's streets in a dramatic end to her iron-fisted rule.

The Sheikh Hasina government was accused of widespread human rights abuses including the extrajudicial killing of thousands of her political opponents.

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