Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has officially assumed the role of the 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh, having taken an oath to "preserve, protect, and defend" the Constitution and the law.
The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Bangabhaban, where President Muhammed Sahabuddin administered the oath of office on Sunday (11 August).
This transition in the nation's highest judicial office follows the resignation of Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, who stepped down on Saturday afternoon amidst escalating demands from protestors for judicial reforms.
The announcement of the new chief justice's appointment was made just hours later.
The resignation of Justice Hassan was part of a broader shake-up within the judiciary, spurred by day-long demonstrations led by anti-discrimination student movements.
Following his resignation, five more judges from the Supreme Court's Appellate Division—Justice M Enayetur Rahim, Justice Abu Zafar Siddiqui, Justice Jahangir Hossain, Justice Md Shahinur Islam, and Justice Kashefa Hossain—also tendered their resignations.
