Amid intensifying unrest in the country, Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as the new Chief Justice of Bangladesh on Sunday, a day after Obaidul Hassan resigned as the chief justice following an ultimatum from protesters demanding a revamp of the judiciary. On Saturday, Hassan and five other Appellate Division judges tendered their resignation, five days after the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s regime amid massive street protests. Hassan’s resignation came as protesters from the Student Anti-Discrimination Movement gathered on the premises of the Supreme Court. Earlier, they had given an ultimatum to him and the Appellate Division judges to resign by 1 pm.
Syed Refaat Ahmed was sworn in as the new Chief Justice during a ceremony at the Darbar Hall of the President’s official residence at around 12:45 pm local time, The Daily Star newspaper reported.
President Shahabuddin swears in Ahmed
President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office to the Chief Justice and the oath-taking ceremony was conducted by Cabinet Secretary Mahbub Hossain.
Senior adviser Prof. Muhammad Yunus, who was sworn in on Thursday as head of an interim government following Hasina’s ouster, also attended the event. President Shahabuddin on Saturday appointed Justice Ahmed as the 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
Who is Syed Refaat Ahmed?
Syed Refaat Ahmed, a Bangladeshi lawyer and jurist, previously worked in the High Court Division and the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. He was born on 28 December 1958. Syed Refaat Ahmed graduated in Law from the University of Dhaka and also completed a Bachelor of Jurisdiction and Master of Arts from Wadham College, Oxford University in 1983.
He also completed a master’s degree and a doctorate from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University.
Syed Refaat Ahmed became a District Court Advocate in 1984 and later a High Court Division Advocate in 1986. He also worked at the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Hong Kong and Washington.
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