Unprecedented pace of reforms: Asif Nazrul

Staff Reporter:

Legal Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul on Sunday said Bangladesh has never witnessed so many reforms within such a short span of time, rejecting claims that no meaningful reforms have taken place.

He made the remarks at a discussion titled “Independence of the Judiciary and the Rule of Law”, organised by the Centre for Governance Studies (CGS) at the CIRDAP auditorium in Dhaka. The session was moderated by CGS President Zillur Rahman. Asif Nazrul said the current government has taken all necessary initiatives to ensure judicial independence, adding that a long-standing aspiration dating back to 1954–55 has now been realised.

He described the recent appointment of a High Court judge as one of the best judicial appointments in the country’s history.

However, he cautioned that independence without accountability cannot be sustained and warned that the progress achieved so far would be at risk if the next elected government fails to act with sincerity.
During the discussion, Zillur Rahman said there was widespread public confusion over the July Charter and the proposed referendum.

He also raised concerns about the judiciary’s capacity, noting that around 4.3 million cases are currently pending across the country.

International Crimes Tribunal Chief Prosecutor Mohammad Tajul Islam said such a massive case backlog cannot be resolved without increasing both the number and professional skills of judges.

He also stressed the need for a shift in judicial mindset, referring to the controversial political role played by a former chief justice.

Other speakers at the dialogue pointed out that political interference and corruption still persist within the judiciary.

They argued that the mere presence of laws is insufficient to establish the rule of law; rather, laws must be applied correctly, impartially and without influence to ensure justice for ordinary citizens.