Resignation Crisis in Bangladesh Amidst Student Protests
Chief Justice and Judges Step Down
Bangladesh's Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigned on Saturday, following intense student protests demanding his removal and a restructuring of the judiciary. This resignation came as part of a broader wave of changes within the judiciary, as two Appellate Division judges, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique and Justice Kashefa Hussain, also resigned. Their resignation letters were submitted on Saturday afternoon, leading to the cancellation of a planned full court meeting.
Resignations in Other Key Positions
The impact of the student protests extended beyond the judiciary. Vice-Chancellors A.S.M. Maksud Kamal of Dhaka University and Farid Uddin Ahmed of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST), as well as Bangla Academy Director-General Md Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, all resigned from their posts on the same day.
Protests and Safety Concerns
Thousands of protesters, including students and members of the Hindu community, gathered at Shahbagh in Dhaka for a second consecutive day, demanding enhanced safety measures. They blocked the Shahbagh intersection and threatened to continue their protests unless action was taken to stop the persecution of Hindus.
Reports of Attacks
Since the fall of the Sheikh Hasina-led government on August 5, the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council and the Bangladesh Puja Udjapan Parishad reported at least 205 incidents of attacks across 52 districts. These incidents have primarily affected ordinary Hindus, according to Rana Dasgupta, General Secretary of the Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Oikya Parishad.
Yunus Condemns Attacks and Calls for Protection
Muhammad Yunus, the chief adviser of the interim government, condemned the attacks on minorities as "heinous." During a visit to Begum Rokeya University in Rangpur, he urged students to protect Hindu, Christian, and Buddhist families from harm. Yunus also visited the family of Abu Sayeed, the first student killed in police firing during recent protests.
Interim Government and Legal Reforms
The interim government, led by Yunus, is currently in power, but its duration has not been specified. Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Asif Nazrul stated that the interim government would remain in place as needed to balance public demands for reform with political parties' calls for elections.
In response to recent protests, the government has decided to withdraw all cases filed between July 1 and August 5, which were seen as attempts to suppress dissent. This includes cases under the Anti-Terrorism Act and the Cyber Security Act.
Resumption of Police Duties
Following a period of heightened security concerns and a temporary halt in police operations due to fears for their safety, police duties are gradually resuming. As of now, 538 out of 639 police stations (approximately 84%) are back in operation.
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