Bangladesh’s chief justice and central bank governor resign amid protests, officials say

DHAKA: Bangladesh’s chief justice and central bank governor have resigned, officials said on Saturday (August 10), as student protests that forced Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee spread to include more officials appointed under her tenure.

Supreme Court Justice Obaidul Hassan has resigned, law ministry adviser Asif Nazrul said in a video post on Facebook, after students warned him of “dire consequences” if he did not do so. Reuters could not immediately contact Hassan.

Nazrul, an adviser to the new caretaker government, urged protesters to remain calm. “Do not destroy any public property,” he said in a post.

Bangladesh Bank Governor Abdur Rouf Talukder also resigned, but his resignation was not accepted because of the importance of the position, Finance Ministry adviser Salehuddin Ahmed told reporters. Reuters could not contact Talukder.

Days earlier, four deputy governors were forced to resign after some 300-400 bank officials protested against what they described as corruption among top officials.