Syed Refaat Ahmed made chief justice

High Court judge Syed Refaat Ahmed has been made chief justice of Bangladesh. President Md Shahabuddin made this appointment on Saturday.

Bangabhaban sources confirmed this. The law ministry issued a gazette notification to this end.

According to the gazette notification, president Md Shahabuddin has appointed High Court judge Syed Refaat Ahmed as the chief justice of Bangladesh in accordance with article 95 (1) of the constitution.

This appointment will be effective from the date of taking oath.

Earlier, the chief justice Obaidul Hasan and five more judges of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court resigned from their posts.

Sources concerned said they submitted the resignation letters to the law ministry today, Saturday.

The five judges are Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Justice Md Abu Zafor Siddique, Justice Jahangir Hossain Selim, Justice Md Shahinur Islam and Justice Kashefa Hussain.

The law adviser will send the resignation letters to the President through the Chief Adviser.

Earlier, several hundred protesters, with many carrying the national flag, demonstrated on the premises in front of the extended building of the High Court demanding resignation of justices including the chief justice.

The protesters said they would continue a peaceful sit-in until their demands are met. The army took positions at the High Court premises.

It was known at around 1:30pm that chief Justice Obaidul Hasan took the decision in principle to resign from his position. Afterwards, the protestors left the High Court area at around 2:00pm.