Obaidul Hassan, the Chief Justice of Bangladesh‘s Supreme Court, has officially resigned after intense pressure from protesters who issued an ultimatum demanding his immediate departure. Appointed just last year, Hassan has been widely regarded as a loyalist to former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, whose controversial tenure continues to stir political unrest in the country.
Earlier in the day, large crowds of protesters gathered outside the Supreme Court in the capital city of Dhaka, calling for Hassan’s resignation. The demonstrators accused him of bias and demanded an independent judiciary free from political influence. Faced with growing public pressure and the ultimatum, Hassan announced his resignation, signaling a significant moment in Bangladesh’s ongoing political turbulence.
The resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan is seen as a victory for the opposition and civil society groups, who have long criticized the judiciary’s perceived lack of independence. This development is expected to further escalate tensions in the country, as both the government and the opposition brace for the potential fallout.