Fresh Protests In Bangladesh As Hundreds Surround Supreme Court, Give Ultimatum To Chief Justice To Resign – WATCH

The protests escalated after reports surfaced that the Chief Justice had called for a full-court meeting, prompting hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, to occupy the Supreme Court premises.

Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has announced his resignation following intense protests outside the Supreme Court. The demonstrators, who surrounded the court and issued an ultimatum, demanded his immediate resignation, The Daily Star reported.  Concerned about the safety of judges in the top and lower courts nationwide, Chief Justice Hassan made the decision to step down. He plans to submit his resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin by Saturday evening. The protests escalated after reports surfaced that the Chief Justice had called for a full-court meeting, prompting hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, to occupy the Supreme Court premises.

One of the protester Abdul Muqaddim alleged that a conspiracy by the Chief Justice to undermine the legitimacy of the interim government. “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.

Protest on demanding resignation of Bangladesh Chief Justice. Ultimatum has been given to him.
📹copied pic.twitter.com/h1QxjQrISo

— MUKTADIR rashid ROMEO (@muktadirnewage) August 10, 2024

Bangladesh has been witnessing a tumultuous period as over 450 lives were lost during a series of protests that ultimately led to the resignation of long-standing Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Allegations of murder, forced disappearance, money laundering, and corruption have surfaced against Hasina. Amidst the chaos, senior Bangladesh Nationalist Party member Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury emphasized the necessity for Hasina to face justice. In response to the widespread unrest, Hasina stepped down and left the country on August 5, following immense pressure from millions of demonstrators demanding her resignation.

Subsequently, an interim government, spearheaded by Nobel laureate economist Muhammad Yunus, was instated. While the constitution mandates an election within 90 days, the timing of the upcoming elections remains uncertain, with no official statements from Yunus, the military, or the president regarding the schedule.