Seventeen state law officers considered sympathetic to Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, the main opposition party in Parliament, resigned on Tuesday, citing disagreements with the government's decision not to turn the July National Charter Ordinance and the Supreme Court Judges (Appointment) Ordinance into permanent laws.
The officials submitted their resignation letters to the President through the Attorney General’s Office, seeking immediate effect.
The resigning deputy attorneys general are Md Yousuf Ali, Mohammad Abdul Karim, Muhammad Tarikul Islam, Farid Uddin Khan, Md Golam Rahman Bhuiyan, Shafiqur Rahman and Asad Uddin.
The assistant attorneys general who stepped down are Imrul Kayes Rana, Md Humayun Kabir, Md Abdul Kaiyum Bhuiyan, Md Zobaidur Rahman, Mohammad Shamsil Arefin, Mahbuba Akhter Roly, Abdullahil Maruf Fahim, Nur Nabi Uzzal, Al Reza Amir and Rezaul Islam.
Most of the resigning law officers were appointed during the interim government led by Professor Muhammad Yunus following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina amid the July-August 2024 mass uprising.
In their resignation letters, the officials said they were stepping down because of fundamental differences with the government's recent actions and policy positions.
They expressed concern over what they described as the government's failure to implement the July Charter in line with public expectations, its opposition to establishing an independent judiciary secretariat and its position on judicial independence.
The law officers also criticised the repeal of the Supreme Court Judges (Appointment) Ordinance, arguing that the move weakened safeguards related to judicial appointments and undermined the independence of the judiciary.
The resignations come amid an ongoing debate over judicial reforms and the future structure of Bangladesh's justice system.
Bd-pratidin English/ Jisan
