Bangladesh Swears In New Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed Amid Calls For Judicial Overhaul

Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as Bangladesh's new Chief Justice on Sunday, following a crucial shift in the country's judiciary.

This development occurred a day after Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other judges of the Appellate Division resigned, responding to an ultimatum from protesters demanding a judiciary revamp.

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These events followed the fall of Sheikh Hasina's regime, which was brought down amid massive street protests and student marches towards the apex court.

Earlier, student leaders from the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement had issued an ultimatum for the judges to resign by 1 pm.

Justice Ahmed took the oath as the new Chief Justice at 12:45 pm local time, during a ceremony held at the Darbar Hall of the president's official residence.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath, with Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain conducting the ceremony. Prof Muhammad Yunus, the head of the interim government, also attended the event.

Yunus, who was sworn in on Thursday as the head of an interim government, stepped into the role after the ouster of Sheikh Hasina, who sought refuge in India amid the violent protests in Dhaka.

Following these events, several top officials in Bangladesh, including Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr. Maksud Kamal and Bangla Academy Director General Professor Dr. Md Harun-Ur-Rashid Askari, resigned from their posts in response to the ongoing protests.