Five more judges, considered supporters of former Bangladesh PM Hasina, resign

Dhaka: After a student ultimatum in Bangladesh, five more judges from the Supreme Court's appellate division, considered supporters of the fugitive former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Wajid, have resigned.

However, students have rejected the appointment of the acting Chief Justice and issued an ultimatum for his removal.

According to Bangladeshi media, students are protesting at the High Court in Dhaka, demanding the resignation of politically affiliated judges. Reports indicate that Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan of the Bangladeshi Supreme Court has resigned, and Justice Ashfaq Islam has been appointed as the acting Chief Justice.

The students, however, have rejected Ashfaq Islam's appointment and have given an ultimatum to have him removed by the evening, demanding that Justice Syed Rifat from the High Court be made the Chief Justice instead.

Student movement leader Hasnat Abdullah stated that although their demand for the Chief Justice's resignation was met, they reject the appointment of Ashfaq Ahmed as acting Chief Justice because he was complicit in the repressive actions during Hasina Wajid's 15-year rule.

The student movement leader has given a 6 p.m. local time deadline for their demands to be met.

Following the Chief Justice's resignation, five more judges from the Supreme Court's Appellate Division, considered supporters of Hasina Wajid, have also resigned. Local media reports list the resigning judges as Justice Inayat Rahim, Justice Abu Zafar Siddiqui, Justice Mohammad Jahangir Hussain, Justice Shahi Noor Islam, and Justice Kashifa Hussain.

These judges have submitted their resignations to the President through the Ministry of Law.

It is noteworthy that the students had previously announced that if the Chief Justice and six other political judges did not resign, they would storm their homes and force them to resign.

This protest was called by Asif Mahmood, an advisor to the interim government and a key leader of the student movement, following which the students surrounded the High Court and demanded the judges' resignations.