Bangladesh’s Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned on Saturday, just two days after the newly formed interim government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus was sworn in. The resignation came in response to fresh protests at the Supreme Court, where demonstrators demanded the resignation of top judges.
The protests, initiated by students, began in July against a controversial quota system for government jobs, which critics argued favored supporters of the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. These protests intensified, eventually leading to Hasina’s resignation and her subsequent flight to India. The violent clashes left over 300 people dead, including students and police officers.
Asif Nazrul, the interim government’s adviser on law, justice, and parliamentary affairs, confirmed that the resignation letter had been received and would be forwarded to President Mohammed Shahabuddin for further action. In a move to overhaul the judiciary, five other top judges also tendered their resignations later on Saturday.
The catalyst for the escalating protests was the death of Abu Sayeed, a protester who became a symbol of resistance after he was shot and killed by police. A video of his last moments, where he spread his arms and invited police to fire, went viral, sparking nationwide outrage. Yunus, visiting Sayeed’s family, declared, “We have to stand the way Abu Sayeed stood. His mother is everyone’s mother. We must protect each other.”
The interim government, which includes two student leaders in its Cabinet, has pledged to remain in power as long as necessary to address demands for reforms and elections. While Hasina’s Awami League party has remained silent on the election timeline, her son Sajeeb Wazed Joy has asserted that any election without their party’s participation would be unacceptable.
Yunus, who was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006 for his work in microfinance, had long been at odds with Hasina. Before his appointment as interim leader, Yunus faced numerous legal challenges, including a conviction related to labor law violations. However, he was acquitted of all charges upon appeal.
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