The police union has gone on strike, demanding assurances for their safety, which has further complicated the situation.
Digital Desk: The Chief Justice of Bangladesh's Supreme Court, Obaidul Hassan, has tentatively agreed to resign amid mounting pressure from protesters surrounding the court, according to Jamuna TV. The 65-year-old judge is expected to submit his resignation after consulting with President Mohammed Shahabuddin later today, as reported by The Dhaka Tribune.
The protests erupted after Hassan proposed a full court meeting involving all justices from both divisions of the Supreme Court. Students protesting the meeting viewed it as a judicial coup and responded by staging a siege of the High Court.
In response to the protests, Chief Justice Hassan postponed the meeting and later announced his intention to step down. Appointed last year and seen as a supporter of ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Hassan faced a one-hour ultimatum to resign. The broader unrest, which contributed to Hasina's removal, has resulted in over 450 deaths, including numerous police officers.
The police union has gone on strike, demanding assurances for their safety, which has further complicated the situation. Hasina has been in New Delhi since Monday and plans to return to Bangladesh to participate in upcoming elections.
This week has also seen vandalism targeting homes and businesses of the minority Hindu community, leading many in northwest Bangladesh to attempt to flee to neighboring India.
Bangladesh's interim leader, Muhammad Yunus, has called for religious unity while comforting the grieving mother of a student killed by police—a significant moment in the widespread protests that ended Sheikh Hasina's 15-year rule. The Nobel laureate’s immediate task is to restore stability to the country following his appointment in response to student demands for temporary leadership amid ongoing anti-government demonstrations.
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