Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Sunday reiterated the urgent need for establishing a separate judicial secretariat to ensure full administrative autonomy of the judiciary.
鈥楯ustice cannot be carried forward on borrowed infrastructure or delegated authority鈥攊t must stand on its own institutional legs,鈥� he said while addressing a national seminar on judicial independence and efficiency at Hotel Intercontinental in Dhaka.
The chief adviser of the interim government, Nobel laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus, was present at the event as the chief guest
While law adviser Asif Nazrul and attorney general Md Asaduzzaman were special guests.
鈥楾he judiciary is now fully functional, independent, and committed to justice. But reforms led by the interim government must be institutionalised through full structural autonomy,鈥� the chief justice concluded.
He said that Bangladesh鈥檚 judiciary had entered a transformative phase following the student-led mass uprising of July鈥揂ugust 2024, and announced that the reform agenda is being institutionalised to restore the rule of law and public trust.
The chief justice described the June 22 gathering as a 鈥榯urning point鈥� in the institutional history of the judiciary.
Justice Refaat said he had not assumed the role of the 25th Chief Justice by personal design, but had been called upon by the people鈥檚 will following the collapse of a 鈥榗ompromised judiciary.鈥�
The recent reforms, he said, were aimed at restoring independence, ensuring accountability, and rebuilding public confidence in justice institutions.
The chief justice highlighted the judicial reform roadmap he unveiled on September 21, 2024. It includes the proposed establishment of a Supreme Court Secretariat for administrative and financial autonomy, a depoliticised guideline on judicial postings, and separate courts for civil and criminal matters.
He announced that twelve directives had already been issued to curb corruption and improve efficiency, including digital complaint systems, public helplines, and mechanisms for citizen redress.
Justice Refaat stressed that judicial independence also depends on how judges are appointed and held accountable.
He pointed out that with the restoration of the Supreme Judicial Council and the creation of a Supreme Judicial Appointment Council, the judiciary now had two institutional mechanisms to ensure transparency and discipline.
鈥楾he two most recent appointments to the Appellate Division were made under this new system,鈥� he said, adding that more appointments were under consideration. He thanked the Chief Adviser and the Law Adviser for supporting the swift implementation of the reform proposals.
Refaat praised the efforts of nearly 2,000 judges and magistrates across the country, especially the 1,200 young judges aged between 24 and 35, including 625 women. He said that their merit-based recruitment and dedication were driving the ongoing reforms, despite infrastructural limitations.
In 36 districts, case disposal has exceeded the number of new filings in the past ten months, the chief justice noted.
He also acknowledged that more than 4.2 million cases remain pending across the country, and urged continued innovation and commitment from the judiciary.
Justice Refaat credited development partners such as the UNDP, Sweden, the EU, and the UK for supporting key reform initiatives.
He noted recent collaborations including a judicial study tour to South Africa, the launch of a聽 judicial helpline, and progress in digital legal aid.
He also mentioned divisional-level 鈥榬eform roadshows鈥� that have been held in all eight divisions to bring the reform agenda closer to judges, lawyers, and citizens.
Before concluding, the chief justice expressed gratitude to all who contributed to the reform process鈥攊ncluding the chief adviser, law adviser, attorney general, judges of both divisions of the Supreme Court, bar leaders, and the Judicial Reform Committee.turning point鈥� in the institutional history of the judiciary.
