Staff Reporter :
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has called for the abolition of the dual governance system within the judiciary of Bangladesh, stating that the true independence of judges hinges on this crucial reform.
Addressing an audience at the Supreme Court premises, the Chief Justice emphasised the need to dismantle the current system of joint authority between the Supreme Court and the Ministry of Law.
He argued that this would pave the way for the establishment of a separate secretariat under the Bangladesh Supreme Court.
“The first necessary step to ensuring judicial autonomy and integrity is the creation of this independent secretariat,” he stated.
Justice Ahmed asserted that without the dissolution of this long-standing dual governance structure, judges would remain unable to perform their duties independently.
He further noted that a transparent and accountable judiciary is vital for restoring public trust, which has been significantly eroded due to years of external interference.
In his address, the Chief Justice identified several systemic challenges plaguing the judiciary, including a lack of clear policies on the appointment and promotion of judges, a severe shortage of judges relative to caseloads, and widespread infrastructural deficiencies.
He called for immediate government action to implement reforms aimed at strengthening the judiciary and restoring public confidence.
He also underscored the importance of fully implementing the ruling in the Masdar Hossain case, which reinforces the independence of subordinate court judges. Justice Ahmed stressed that the independence of the judiciary is not only a constitutional mandate but a fundamental pillar for upholding the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Concluding his address, the Chief Justice expressed his commitment to building a strong, modern, and efficient judiciary that serves as a bastion of integrity and justice.
The event was attended by Law Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul and around 2,000 judges from across the country.