Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has announced his decision to resign from his post after protesters surrounded the Supreme Court on Saturday, demanding his resignation within an hour. The protestors had threatened to storm the residences of the judges, including that of the Chief Justice if their demands were not met. This dramatic turn of events was reported by *The Daily Star* and marks a significant escalation in the ongoing political crisis in Bangladesh.
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan cited the safety concerns of judges in both the top court and lower courts across the country as the primary reason for his decision to step down. He informed the media of his intention to submit his resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin by Saturday evening.
The protests gained intensity after reports surfaced that the Chief Justice had called for a full-court meeting, which was perceived by many as a move to challenge the legitimacy of the interim government. In response, hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, marched towards the Supreme Court, occupying its premises. The situation became so tense that army personnel were deployed to protect the court.
One of the protestors, Abdul Muqaddim, expressed concerns that the Chief Justice might be conspiring 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*.
Adding to the controversy, Asif Nazrul, a law adviser to the interim government, highlighted several controversies surrounding Chief Justice Hassan. He alleged that Hassan had connections with Awami League leaders, staying at their residences during his travels abroad. Meanwhile, Asif Mahmud, an adviser to the Sports Ministry of the interim government, also demanded the Chief Justice's unconditional resignation and called for the cancellation of the full-court meeting.
The Chief Justice, facing mounting pressure, postponed the judges' meeting, as reported by *The Daily Star*.
This unrest is rooted in widespread discontent that initially began as protests against a controversial quota system, which reserved up to 30 percent of government jobs for the family members of 1971 war veterans. While the Supreme Court reduced these quotas to 5 percent in response, the protests evolved into a broader movement demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. The violent protests that ensued have reportedly resulted in over 500 deaths and hundreds of injuries.
The situation escalated further when Prime Minister Hasina resigned and fled the country on Monday, leading to the formation of an interim government under the leadership of Nobel Peace laureate Muhammad Yunus. As the political landscape in Bangladesh continues to shift rapidly, the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan marks yet another significant development in the country's unfolding crisis.
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