Protesters Issue Ultimatum to Bangladesh Chief Justice

Dhaka:

Following protests in Bangaldesh that compelled Sheikh Hasina to step down as the prime minister, students have now aimed at the Supreme Court and are requesting the resignation of all judges, including the Chief Justice.

A multitude of demonstrators, largely consisting of students, have encircled the Bangladesh Supreme Court, urging the immediate resignation of Chief Justice. The situation escalated swiftly, with reports indicating the Chief Justice might have escaped the premises.

The demonstrations were ignited by a full-court assembly summoned by the Chief Justice without prior consultation with the newly established interim government. Student demonstrators alleged that the judges of the court are involved in a plot, provoking anger and calls for answerability.

As tensions rose, the scheduled full-court assembly was abruptly called off. Protesters, undeterred, persisted in besieging the Supreme Court, giving the Chief Justice a one-hour ultimatum to resign.

The recent protests come after a student-led revolt against government recruitment regulations led to Nobel peace prize laureate Muhammad Yunus assuming control of a caretaker government.

At least 450 individuals perished in over a month of lethal protests that brought an end to the autocratic reign of 76-year-old prime minister Sheikh Hasina.

Hasina is accused of homicide, enforced disappearance, illicit money transfers, and graft, and must confront the legal system, Amir Khosru Mahmud Chowdhury, a senior figure of Bangladesh Nationalist Party stated.

Hasina, one of the longest-serving leaders in Asia, stepped down and departed Bangladesh on August 5 under the pressure of millions of demonstrators who had thronged the streets for weeks demanding her resignation.

An interim government was established in Bangladesh on Thursday, headed by Nobel Prize-winning economist Muhammad Yunus. As per the constitution, an election must be arranged within 90 days, although Yunus, the military – which supports the interim government – and the president have not disclosed when the elections will be conducted.