The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has issued a gazette notification appointing Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, a senior judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court, as the new Chief Justice of Bangladesh.
He will succeed Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, who is set to retire on 27 December upon reaching the age of 67.
Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury will take oath as the country’s 26th Chief Justice at Bangabhaban on 28 December, formally assuming the office. His appointment comes under the powers conferred by Article 95(1) of the Constitution.
Prior to this appointment, he served as acting Chief Justice when Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed was abroad. He has been a senior figure in the judiciary for decades, having enrolled as a lawyer in the District Judges’ Court in 1985 and in the Supreme Court’s High Court Division in 1987.
On 27 August 2003, he was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court Division, with his appointment made permanent two years later. On 12 August 2024, President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed him as a justice of the Appellate Division.
Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury earned his LLB (Hons) and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka and subsequently completed a Master’s degree in International Law in the United Kingdom.
His elevation marks the continuation of a distinguished legal career spanning nearly four decades. Over the years, he has presided over numerous significant cases and contributed to the development of judicial practice in Bangladesh.
With the retirement of Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, who assumed office following the July 2023 changes in the judiciary, Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury’s appointment ensures a smooth transition at the helm of the Supreme Court.
His experience as acting Chief Justice and his tenure in both the High Court and Appellate Division provide continuity in leadership at the nation’s highest judicial body.
