2024 Bangladesh alleged judicial coup attempt

The 2024 Bangladesh judicial coup attempt was a series of events that unfolded in August 2024, involving an alleged effort by members of the judiciary in Bangladesh to destabilize the newly formed interim government and potentially restore power to the ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

2024 Bangladesh judicial coup attempt
Part of aftermath of the Student–People's uprising
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh, where a "full court meeting" was reportedly scheduled for the judicial manoeuvre.
Date	August 10, 2024
Location	Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh 23.7308°N 90.4025°E / 23.7308; 90.4025
Resulted in	Protesters victory Chief Justice resigned following protest
Parties
Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and five other judges of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh Anti-discrimination Students Movement Students under the banner of AdSM

The coup attempt was primarily centred around judicial manoeuvres led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan and other judges suspected of being loyal to the Awami League, the political party led by Hasina.

Background

Main articles: Student–People's uprising and Non-cooperation movement (2024)

The political crisis began on August 5, 2024, when a massive student-led uprising, described as Student–People's uprising overthrew Sheikh Hasina's government after 15 years of rule. The movement was started for reformation in the quota system and escalated by accusations of widespread corruption, human rights abuses, and the suppression of dissent under Hasina's regime. The violent protests, which resulted in a massacre, led to Hasina resigning and fleeing to India.

In response to the power vacuum, an interim government was sworn in on August 8, 2024, headed by Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus. The interim government was seen as a step towards democratic renewal, with promises to hold fair elections and restore civil liberties. However, within days of its formation, the interim government faced significant challenges, including an alleged judicial coup attempt orchestrated by loyalists of the former regime.

Events

The coup attempt centred around the Supreme Court of Bangladesh in Dhaka, where several judges, led by Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan, were accused of planning a legal manoeuvre to challenge the legitimacy of the interim government. On August 10, 2024, a plenary meeting of the judges was scheduled, a move considered irregular and unconstitutional by many observers, including LDP Secretary-general Redwan Ahmed. This meeting was perceived as a prelude to issuing a ruling that could undermine the interim government and potentially pave the way for Hasina's return.

Hasnat Abdullah, one of the coordinators of the Anti-discrimination Students Movement, called for protests to be held at the Supreme Court premise. Mass protests erupted outside the Supreme Court, with hundreds of students under the banner of Anti-discrimination Students Movement, lawyers, and civil society members demanding Hassan's resignation. They accused him of attempting to use the judiciary to restore Hasina to power, calling him a "puppet" of the former regime. Asif Mahmud, one of the Adviser to the interim government, criticized Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan for convening a full court meeting of the court's Appellate Division without consulting the government and demanded his resignation. The protests grew in intensity after Sajeeb Wazed, Hasina's son, publicly hinted that Hasina had not formally resigned and could return to power, which further fueled fears of a judicial coup.

Aftermath

Following the protests against the alleged judicial coup attempt resulted in, Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan resigning on August 10, 2024, amid accusations of his loyalty to the former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. His resignation followed wave of judicial resignations across the country, which saw several judges from the Supreme Court and district courts stepping down due to their perceived connections to the previous regime. In Dhaka, the capital, at least five senior judges resigned, while other judges from cities such as Chattogram, Khulna, and Sylhet followed suit. In total, around twelve judges resigned or were removed as part of the efforts to restore confidence in the judiciary and cleanse it of perceived biases.

In response to these resignations, the interim government, led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus appointed Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed as the new Chief Justice of Bangladesh. Additionally, the government established an independent judicial commission tasked with reviewing the conduct of the resigned judges and overseeing new appointments to ensure impartiality.

The interim government also replaced key judges in major districts, such as Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, and Sylhet. Alongside these judicial reforms, the interim government laid out a roadmap for new elections to be held within 12 to 18 months, focusing on electoral reforms and inviting international observers to guarantee a transparent and credible electoral process.

To bolster these reforms, the interim government actively engaged with the international community, including the United Nations and the European Union, to secure their support and involvement in overseeing the transition.

See also

• Military coups in Bangladesh
• List of coups and coup attempts since 2010
• List of attacks on legislatures