Justice Hassan, who was appointed last year and is viewed as a loyalist to the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, received an ultimatum from demonstrators demanding his resignation.
The Chief Justice of Bangladesh’s Supreme Court has agreed “in principle” to resign after facing intense pressure from protesters surrounding the court, according to Jamuna TV.
Justice Hassan, who was appointed last year and is viewed as a loyalist to the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, received an ultimatum from demonstrators demanding his resignation. The protests, part of the broader unrest that led to Hasina’s removal, have resulted in over 450 deaths, including dozens of police officers.
In response, the police union has declared a strike, refusing to return to work until their safety is guaranteed, adding further complexity to the crisis.
Sheikh Hasina, currently sheltering in New Delhi since Monday, plans to return to Bangladesh to participate in upcoming elections.
Meanwhile, the minority Hindu community in northwest Bangladesh has faced a wave of violence, with many homes and businesses vandalized. Hundreds of Hindus have attempted to flee to neighboring India for safety.
Bangladesh’s interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has called for religious unity as he consoled the grieving mother of a student killed by police, a key moment in the mass protests that ended Hasina’s 15-year rule. Yunus, a Nobel laureate, was urged by student protesters to temporarily lead the country, and his primary challenge is to restore stability after weeks of deadly anti-government demonstrations.
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