Dhaka, June 23 -- A total of 18 state law officers - seven deputy attorneys general and 11 assistant attorneys general - who were appointed during the previous interim government period have stepped down.

They separately submitted their resignation letters to the Office of the Attorney General on Tuesday.

According to sources, all the resigning officials are supporters of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami.

Speaking at a press briefing, Deputy Attorney General M Yusuf Ali said they resigned in protest against the non-implementation of the "July Charter," and the failure to pass the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance and the Supreme Court Judges Appointment Ordinance.

The other deputy attorneys general who resigned were Mohammad Shafiqur Rahm...