(Dhaka) The chief justice of Bangladesh, close to the former government ousted by a popular uprising, has resigned under pressure from protesters at a time when the head of the interim government, Muhammad Yunus, called for unity.
“I am no longer able to carry out my duties and have therefore decided to resign,” Obaidul Hassan said in a statement on Saturday. Appointed as the new Supreme Court chief last year, he is considered a loyalist of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled the country this week following mass protests.
Obaidul Hassan notably oversaw a highly criticized war crimes tribunal that ordered the execution of M’s opponents.me Hasina. Her brother was the former prime minister’s secretary for many years.
The announcement of his resignation comes after an ultimatum from protesters, some of whom had gathered outside the building of the country’s highest judicial authority, Jamuna TV reported.
No one should do anything that could oppose the Supreme Court to the mass uprising of students and people.
Asif Nazrul, a student protest leader who is part of Mr Yunus’ government.
Bangladesh’s interim leader appealed for religious unity Saturday as he hugged and comforted the weeping mother of a student shot dead by police, whose death was the culmination of mass protests that ended Sheikh Hasina’s 15-year rule.
“Our responsibility is to build a new Bangladesh,” the 84-year-old Nobel Peace Prize winner and economist told reporters. “Let us not differentiate based on religion,” he insisted.
Several attacks on the country’s Hindu minority since Sheikh Hasina fled the country have sparked concern in neighbouring India and fears in Bangladesh.
“Protect the Constitution”
Shops and homes belonging to Hindus – a community sometimes seen in the Muslim-majority country as having been close to the ousted leader – were attacked on Monday, witnesses said. The home of a prominent Hindu musician, Rahul Ananda, was set on fire.
The new prime minister was speaking during a visit to the northern city of Rangpur, where he paid tribute to Abu Sayeed, the first student killed in the crackdown on protests. Aged 25, he was shot dead at point-blank range by police on July 16.
The new interim government vowed Friday to tackle the difficult challenge of returning the country to democracy after the student uprising and mass protests. At least 432 people have been killed during the protests, including 122 on Monday, the deadliest day, according to an AFP tally based on police, government and medical sources.
A strike was called by police unions across the country on Tuesday, saying officers would not return to work until security was assured in Bangladesh.
Police said Saturday that half of the police stations had reopened. Hundreds of inmates have escaped from prisons north of the capital Dhaka this week.
A day after his return from Europe and after promising to “uphold, support and protect the constitution” when he takes office, Mr Yunus paid tribute on Friday to the heroes of Bangladesh’s independence, his first act as head of the interim government.
The economist, who has taken the title of “chief adviser” in the interim government, made up of civilians except for a retired brigadier general, said he wanted to hold elections “within a few months.”