Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has announced a plan to set up a separate secretariat to ensure the independence of the judiciary.
“A separate secretariat for the judiciary will be established, which will operate under the Supreme Court. Additionally, a separate policy will be formulated for the appointment of judges, and rules for appointing judges to the Supreme Court should be introduced,” he added.
Syed Refaat Ahmed made the announcement during a speech in front of 2,000 judges of subordinate courts across the country at the Inner Garden of the Supreme Court on Saturday.
Law Adviser professor Dr Asif Nazrul and Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman also spoke at the event. Judges from the Appellate Division and High Court Division of the Supreme Court and members of the Judicial Reform Committee were also present.
The Chief Justice in the event also presented a roadmap for the judiciary. “We have sought the government’s cooperation to ensure judicial independence,” he said.
He said that that the true independence of judges in Bangladesh hinges on the abolition of the long-standing dual governance system within the judiciary. The joint authority of the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Law must be dismantled to facilitate a separate secretariat under the Bangladesh Supreme Court, he added.
The Chief Justice outlined that until this dual governance structure is eliminated, judges would not be able to exercise their duties independently. A transparent and accountable judiciary is essential for restoring public trust, which has been eroded due to years of interference, he noted.
He highlighted several systemic issues plaguing the judiciary, including a lack of clear policies for the appointment and promotion of judges, severe shortages of judges relative to caseloads, and infrastructural inadequacies.
He called for immediate government action to implement reforms aimed at strengthening the judiciary and restoring faith among the populace.
Moreover, he mentioned the necessity of implementing the full ruling in the Masdar Hossain case, which emphasises the independence of the subordinate court judges. He pointed out that the judiciary’s independence is not only a constitutional requirement but a cornerstone for upholding the rule of law in Bangladesh.
The Chief Justice expressed commitment to fostering a strong, modern, and efficient judiciary that serves as a bastion of integrity and justice.
