TDS Desk:

Ashfaqul Islam, a judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, has been appointed as the acting Chief Justice, succeeding the incumbent Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, who stepped down on Saturday.

A gazette notification was published in this regard on Saturday afternoon.

Obaidul Hassan was forced to resign following a protest enforced by the Anti-Discrimination Student Movement on the High Court premises.

The protesters also demanded resignation of all judges of the Appellate Division, including the Chief Justice.

The protesters issued an ultimatum asking six judges of the Appellate Division, including the Chief Justice to resign from their posts by 1 pm on Saturday.

Amid the evolving situation, Ashfaqul Islam is set to be appointed as the Chief Justice.

Islam was born on 15 July 1959. His father was A. K. M. Nurul Islam, former vice president of Bangladesh.

He completed his bachelor’s degree and masters in law from the University of Dhaka.

Islam became a lawyer of the district court in 1983. In 1985, Islam became a lawyer of the High Court Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court.

On 27 August 2003, Islam was appointed an additional judge of the High Court Division.

Islam was made a permanent judge of the High Court Division on 27 August 2005.