Protests Erupt in Dhaka Again: Chief Justice Resigns Amid Rising Tensions

Protests started once again in Bangladesh on Saturday. The protesters now surrounded the Supreme Court in Dhaka and asked all the judges including the Chief Justice to resign within an hour. Seeing the demonstration increasing, Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan decided to resign from the post of head of the judiciary. He will submit his resignation in the evening after consulting President Mohammad Shahabuddin.

The protesters had warned that if the judges and Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan do not resign, they will attack their residences. Recently, Sheikh Hasina was forced to resign from the post of Prime Minister after massive protests in Bangladesh.

On Saturday, hundreds of protesters surrounded the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, most of the protesters were students and were demanding the immediate resignation of the Chief Justice.

The news came that the Chief Justice had called a full court meeting, which enraged the protesters. Hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, started moving towards the Supreme Court. A protester named Abdul Muqaddim claimed that the Chief Justice was plotting to declare the interim government illegal.

Muqaddim told the Daily Star, "Fascists are trying to use the Supreme Court and the Chief Justice to declare the interim government illegal. That is why we have come to the Supreme Court premises to force the Chief Justice to resign."

Asif Mahmud, an adviser to the Sports Ministry of the interim government, also demanded the "unconditional resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hasan" and the cancellation of the full court meeting. The report said that amid the tension, the Chief Justice postponed the meeting of the judges.

Earlier, Professor Asif Najrul, legal adviser (minister) in the interim government, said that the Chief Justice should decide his fate to protect the dignity of the judiciary. He also said that the Chief Justice should respect the demands of the student people.

Referring to the complaints of the protest leaders, Asif Nazrul said: "I have seen the complaints of the students. The way the Chief Justice called the full court meeting seemed to be a move in favour of the defeated autocratic forces. Before commenting on this, I want to say a few words, our Chief Justice is a very respected person. However, questions were raised about him, especially during this movement." He said that when Obaidul Hasan went abroad, he stayed at the residences of various Awami League leaders. There were many controversies about him.