Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Bangladesh. The President, Md. Shahabuddin, made the appointment on Saturday night, according to sources from the Bangabhaban. The Ministry of Law has issued an official notification confirming the appointment, stating that under the powers granted by Article 95(1) of the Constitution, Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed of the High Court Division has been appointed as the Chief Justice of Bangladesh. The appointment will be effective from the date of his swearing-in.
Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was first appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court Division in 2003 and became a permanent judge in 2005.
This appointment follows the resignation of the former Chief Justice, Obaidul Hassan, along with five other justices from the Appellate Division. The resignations were submitted to the Ministry of Law earlier in the day.
The five other justices who resigned are M. Enayetur Rahim, Md. Abu Zafor Siddiqui, Jahangir Hossain, Md. Shahinur Islam, and Kashefa Hossain.
As per procedure, the legal advisor will forward the resignation letters to the President through the Chief Advisor.
Former Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan joined the High Court Division of the Supreme Court as an Additional Judge on June 30, 2009, became a permanent judge on June 6, 2011, was appointed to the Appellate Division in September 2020, and took oath as Chief Justice on September 26.
Earlier today, protesters had been demonstrating in front of the extended building of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, demanding the resignation of the Chief Justice and six other Appellate Division justices. By 1:30 PM, it was reported that the Chief Justice had decided to resign, and the protesters subsequently left the High Court area.
