Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, has emphasised that the primary objective of the country’s judicial reform roadmap is to ensure full judicial independence and build a trustworthy, efficient justice system.
Delivering the keynote address at the opening session of the United Nations
Development Programme’s (UNDP) 25th Annual Rule of Law and Human Rights Forum, held virtually from New York, the Chief Justice called for renewed national and global efforts to uphold the rule of law and protect fundamental rights.
Speaking on Wednesday, Chief Justice highlighted Bangladesh’s transitional journey following the collapse of the former regime during the student-led uprising of July-August 2024, which led to the formation of an interim government under Nobel Laureate Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus.
“The youth-led revolution demonstrated an extraordinary resistance against injustice and a clear demand for accountability,” he said. “Assuming office in this historic context, my resolve to pursue transformative judicial reforms has only strengthened.”
The Chief Justice acknowledged the enormous challenges he inherited-over 4.2 million pending cases and a judiciary facing longstanding politicisation and public mistrust. Nevertheless, he said these difficulties had not deterred his mission.
“To realise the aspirations of the people who took to the streets demanding justice, I launched a comprehensive Reform Roadmap aimed at institutional renewal,” he said.
Chief Justice praised the UNDP for its continued support in this effort, particularly in areas such as digital transformation of court systems, capacity-building for legal professionals, promoting judicial integrity, and designing reforms focused on public access to justice.
He noted a recent collaboration with South African experts on transitional justice as especially valuable, reinforcing the idea that robust judicial reform is critical to shifting from authoritarian rule to a stable, democratic future.
“A judiciary must first free itself from the legacy of authoritarian control and transform into an independent, credible institution capable of delivering fair and effective remedies,” he stressed.
In a message resonating across national and international legal communities, the Chief Justice underscored the broader significance of justice in maintaining peace and societal stability.
“We must remember-where justice is absent, unrest will surface in the streets,” he said. “The pursuit of justice, even in the most difficult circumstances, must serve as a beacon of hope for all citizens.”
The three-day UNDP forum, taking place from 10 to 12 June, brings together senior judicial officials, legal scholars, and human rights advocates from around the world to discuss strategies for strengthening the rule of law and democratic institutions in times of transition.
Chief Justice’s remarks were met with positive reception among participants, many of whom commended Bangladesh’s commitment to reform and emphasised the importance of international cooperation in promoting judicial independence and access to justice.
