Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan has decided to resign from his post after protesters surrounded the Supreme Court on Saturday and gave him an ultimatum to quit within an hour, media reported. The protesters had warned that they would storm the residences of the judges of the top court and the Chief Justice if they failed to resign.

The Chief Justice told the media he had decided to step down considering the safety of the judges at the top court and lower courts across the country. He said he would send his resignation letter to President Mohammed Shahabuddin by Saturday evening.

Obaidul Hassan, who was appointed to helm the Supreme Court last year and is seen as a loyalist to ousted premier Sheikh Hasina, was told to step down by protesters who gathered outside the court in the capital Dhaka.

The fresh protests started after news emerged that the Chief Justice had summoned a full-court meeting. Hundreds of protesters, including students and lawyers, marched towards the Supreme Court and occupied its premises. Army personnel were also deployed to protect the Supreme Court.

Amid the tensions, the Chief Justice postponed the meeting of the judges, the report said.

Chaos gripped the neighbouring country after students started a protest over a controversial quota system that reserved up to 30 percent of government jobs for family members of 1971 war veterans. As the protests gained momentum, the Supreme Court cut the job quotas to 5%.

However, the protests subsequently took a different turn, with agitators demanding Hasina's resignation. The ensuing violence has left over 500 people dead and hundreds more injured.