Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Saturday stressed the urgency of establishing High Court benches outside Dhaka and appointing more additional High Court judges to tackle the growing backlog of cases and alleviate the suffering of justice seekers.
Speaking at a regional seminar titled 鈥楯udicial independence and efficiency in Bangladesh鈥� at Dusai Resort in Moulvibazar, the chief justice outlined key reforms aimed at modernising the judiciary.
He also announced plans to establish specialised commercial courts to expedite the business dispute resolution.
The seminar, jointly organised by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and the United Nations Development Programme, brought together judicial officers from Sylhet, Habiganj and Moulvibazar.
Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, a senior judge of the Appellate Division, presided over the event.
This was the second regional seminar on judicial reform, following a similar event held in Chattogram on January 20.
The chief justice as the chief guest at the event emphasised the importance of utilising constitutional provisions to address judicial inefficiencies.
Citing Articles 98 and 100 of the constitution, he noted Article 98 allows the appointment of additional judges to temporarily enhance the capacity of the High Court, while Article 100 enables High Court sessions to be held outside Dhaka, making justice more accessible to the people living in different regions.
The chief justice at the time also remarked on the present鈥檚 power, saying 鈥楥ertain underutilised provisions in Chapter I of Part VI of the constitution, [regarding the president鈥檚 powers] require reconsideration to address evolving circumstances鈥�.
Justice Refaat Ahmed urged Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, who chairs the Supreme Court Special Committee for Judicial Reform, to prioritise exploring these constitutional mechanisms.
He urged Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, chairman of the Supreme Court Special Committee for Judicial Reform, to explore these possibilities.
Justice Refaat Ahmed said that High Court benches outside the capital would bring justice closer to people, reducing travel burden and ensuring timely case resolution.
He emphasised the importance of commercial courts, stating that they would provide a predictable and transparent legal environment, enhancing investor confidence and attracting foreign direct investment.
鈥楾his reform reflects the judiciary鈥檚 commitment to addressing the evolving demands of a dynamic economy,鈥� he added.
Highlighting the significance of educating the younger generation on constitutional principles, the chief justice called for the inclusion of constitutional education in school curriculums.
He linked the proposal to the student-led July uprising, noting that a well-informed youth could contribute to a more just and democratic society.
He also updated participants on the judiciary reform roadmap unveiled on September 21, 2024.
The chief justice further shared with the seminar key milestones, including passing an ordinance to form a Judicial Appointment Council for higher court judges, progress in establishing a Supreme Court Secretariat to ensure judicial autonomy, policy formulation for the transfer and promotion of subordinate court judges, introduction of the Chief Justice Fellowship to enhance judicial officers鈥� capacity.
He also highlighted the judiciary鈥檚 strides in digitalisation, including the paper-free operation of the Supreme Court鈥檚 Company Bench, with plans to extend similar initiatives to the district courts.
He praised the Supreme Court鈥檚 Help Line service for improving transparency and accountability in service delivery to litigants.