Chief Justice of Bangladesh Obaidul Hassan has reportedly decided to resign following intense protests that erupted at the Supreme Court premises in Dhaka on Saturday. Hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, gathered around 10:30 am, demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice and the judges of the Appellate Division.
The demonstrators issued an ultimatum, threatening to besiege the judges’ residences if they did not step down by 1 pm local time.
The situation intensified as protesters called for an immediate resignation, leading to the postponement of a full court meeting intended to decide on the virtual functioning of the court.
Earlier in the day, Asif Mahmud, an adviser to the Youth and Sports Ministry of the interim government, publicly demanded the Chief Justice’s unconditional resignation via Facebook.
In response to the mounting pressure, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan announced his intention to tender his resignation after consulting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin on Saturday evening, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune.
Obaidul Hassan, who was appointed as Chief Justice last year, is perceived as a loyalist to ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, adding to the political tensions surrounding his tenure.