Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has called for the establishment of a judiciary that is truly independent, autonomous, and capable of maintaining the balance of power while ensuring accountability.
Speaking as the chief guest at a special discussion session on the occasion of Bangladesh Supreme Court Day on Thursday, he emphasised that Supreme Court judges must not only be qualified but also uphold high standards of integrity, ethics, and societal respect. “The judiciary must remain accountable solely to the rule of law,” he said.
The chief justice noted that since the July uprising, the Supreme Court has played a vital role in judicial reforms. “Born from the sacrifices of the Liberation War, the Supreme Court embodies the people’s enduring desire for justice and safeguards citizens from abuse of power, autocracy, oppression, and injustice,” he added.
He expressed hope that Supreme Court Day would inspire judges to maintain the highest standards of judicial conduct and extend justice to marginalized and oppressed communities.
The event was attended by judges of the Appellate and High Court Divisions, Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman, Chief Prosecutor of the International Crimes Tribunal Tajul Islam, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, invited guests, and officials from the Supreme Court Registry and Secretariat.
The Supreme Court of Bangladesh was established on 18 December, 1972, under the Constitution. The day has been officially observed as ‘Bangladesh Supreme Court Day’ since a unanimous resolution passed in a full court meeting on 25 October, 2017.
