Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as the 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday. A day before this, Obaidul Hasan had resigned from the post of Chief Justice. Apart from Justice Hasan, five judges of the Appellate Division of the apex court had also resigned from the post.
The Chief Justice (65) announced his decision at around 1 pm on Saturday when protesters from the anti-discrimination student movement gathered in the court premises. The protesting students had given Hasan and the judges of the Appellate Division time till 1 pm to resign.
The demand of student movement was
Syed Refaat Ahmed was born on December 28, 1958. His father, Barrister Syed Ishtiaq Ahmed, was the former Attorney General of Bangladesh. His mother, Dr. Sufia Ahmed, was a national professor of Bangladesh and principal professor of Islamic history and culture at the University of Dhaka. The anti-discrimination student movement had earlier demanded that Syed Refaat Ahmed be appointed Chief Justice.
According to the ‘Daily Star’ newspaper report, Ahmed took oath as the country’s new Chief Justice during a ceremony at the Durbar Hall of the President’s official residence at around 12.45 pm local time. According to reports, President Mohammad Shahabuddin administered the oath to the Chief Justice. Mohammad Yunus, who became the head of the interim government of Bangladesh after Sheikh Hasina resigned from the post of Prime Minister, also participated in this program.
Bangladeshi Hindu students will meet Mohammad Yunus
Mohammad Yunus, head of the interim government of Bangladesh, has called youth and students of the Hindu community for a meeting to discuss the solution to the crisis and the safety of Hindus. Minorities in the neighboring country are now demanding a Minority Protection Act to protect Hindus and other minorities from atrocities.
Group of Hindu students will put forth 8-point demands
According to the information, Hindu Student Minority Rights Movement group will put forward 8-point demands before the Yunus government. These include the demand for setting up a fast track tribunal for speedy trial in cases of attacks on Hindus and immediate implementation of the Minority Protection Act.
The group of Hindu students will demand the Yunus government to upgrade the Hindu Religious Welfare Trust to a foundation, modernize the Pali Education Board, declare a 5-day holiday during Shardiya Durga Puja and set up a Ministry of Minority Affairs. This meeting will take place tomorrow afternoon.