Bangladesh Chief Justice Steps Down Following Student Protesters' Ultimatum

Obaidul Hassan, appointed last year as Supreme Court Chief Justice, is viewed as an ally of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

Bangladesh's Chief Justice, Obaidul Hassan, has agreed "in principle" to resign after facing intense pressure from protesters who gathered around the Supreme Court, as reported by Jamuna TV. The 65-year-old judge plans to submit his resignation after consulting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin, according to The Dhaka Tribune.

The unrest began when Justice Hassan called for a full court meeting involving all justices from both divisions of the Supreme Court. This move was perceived by protesting students as a judicial coup, prompting them to announce a siege of the High Court premises.

In response to the escalating protests, Justice Hassan postponed the meeting and later indicated his intention to step down. Appointed last year and seen as an ally of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Hassan was given a one-hour ultimatum to resign.

Meanwhile, Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder has also offered his resignation, though it has not been accepted due to the critical nature of his role, according to finance ministry adviser Salehuddin Ahmed. Earlier, four deputy governors were forced to resign by hundreds of bank officials accusing them of corruption.

These protests are part of broader unrest that contributed to Hasina's departure, leading to over 450 deaths, including several police officers. Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior member of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party, stated that Hasina now faces allegations of murder, forced disappearances, money laundering, and corruption.

The situation has further deteriorated with the police union declaring a strike, refusing to return to duty until their safety is guaranteed. Hasina, who has been sheltering in New Delhi since Monday, plans to return to Bangladesh and participate in the upcoming elections.

Additionally, the homes and businesses of Bangladesh's minority Hindu community have been targeted, resulting in hundreds attempting to flee to neighboring India. Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has called for religious unity as he comforted the grieving mother of a student killed by police, a key event in the protests that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule.

Nobel laureate Yunus's immediate challenge is to stabilize the country after responding to the student protesters' call for him to temporarily lead the nation amidst weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations against Sheikh Hasina's administration.