Judicial reform roadmap now a reality: Chief Justice

Published : Thursday, 25 September, 2025 at 5:23 PM Count : 31

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday said the judicial reform roadmap announced a year earlier had become a reality, transforming courtroom culture, public expectations, and the credibility of institutions.

Speaking at the closing seminar of the series titled “Judicial Independence and Efficiency in Bangladesh” at Hotel Grand Park in Barishal, he highlighted key achievements under the reform journey.

The chief justice said the enactment of the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council Ordinance-2025 fulfilled a long-standing demand for a transparent, credible, and collegium-based process for appointing judges to the Appellate and High Court Divisions.

“Appointments had already been made under this system, turning a long-awaited national consensus into law and strengthening judicial independence,” he added.

He noted that the foundation of a separate Supreme Court Secretariat was nearly complete, which would end the dual administrative structure in postings, transfers, and disciplinary matters, thereby ensuring genuine autonomy of the judiciary.

The Chief Justice further announced the revival of the long-dormant Supreme Judicial Council, restoring the constitutional process for disciplining and removing Supreme Court judges. Other milestones included introducing nationwide judicial helplines, separating civil and criminal jurisdictions, creating 232 new judicial posts at district level, and preparing a draft Commercial Court Ordinance-2025 to establish specialised courts for faster commercial dispute resolution.

He said the reforms were already enhancing investor confidence and improving Bangladesh’s ease of doing business environment, while also earning international recognition, with Bangladesh’s reform experiences shared at global platforms from Bangkok to Dubai, Johannesburg, and São Paulo.

The seminar, jointly organised by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and UNDP Bangladesh, marked the conclusion of a nationwide series of events held in eight divisional cities since December 2024 as part of the implementation of the reform roadmap.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division presided over the seminar, while UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller delivered the welcome remarks. Ambassadors and envoys including Michael Miller (EU), Nicolas Weeks (Sweden), Haakon Arald Gulbrandsen (Norway), and British High Commissioner Sarah Cook attended as special guests.

Judicial officers from Barishal and adjoining districts, members of the Barishal District Bar Association, government pleaders, and prosecutors also joined the seminar.

FP/MI