Bangladesh Chief Justice Resigns Amid Protests as New Government Takes Over

DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — In a significant political shift, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned on Saturday following widespread protests led by students and other demonstrators. This development comes as Bangladesh's interim government, headed by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus, begins its operations after the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India amid escalating unrest. Asif Nazrul, the law adviser to the interim government, confirmed the receipt of Hassan's resignation letter, which will be forwarded to President Mohammed Shahabuddin for further action. Reports indicate that five other Supreme Court judges are also expected to resign as part of a judicial reorganization. The protests, which began in July against a controversial quota system for government jobs, escalated into a broader movement against Hasina's administration, resulting in over 300 fatalities, including students and police officers. The interim government, sworn in on Thursday, includes members from civil society and two student protest leaders, following the dissolution of Parliament. Yunus, who was in Paris during the Olympics when appointed, has called for peace and pledged to implement reforms. While the interim government is anticipated to announce new elections, the timeline remains uncertain. The main opposition party has demanded elections within three months, a request analysts deem unlikely. Nazrul stated that the Yunus-led government would remain in power as long as necessary to address public and political demands for reforms and elections. Meanwhile, Hasina's Awami League party has not clarified its stance on the election schedule, with her son asserting that any election without their party would be unacceptable. The unrest continues to grip the streets of Bangladesh following the recent political upheaval.