Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam of the Appellate Division of Supreme Court of Bangladesh retired on Tuesday after reaching the constitutional age limit of 67 years. On his final working day, a farewell reception was organised in his honour by the Attorney General’s Office and Supreme Court Bar Association.
The event was attended by the chief justice, judges of the appellate division, and supreme court lawyers, with speeches delivered by Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Supreme Court Bar Association President Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon.
In his farewell address, Justice Ashfaqul Islam said although he was stepping down from his judicial seat, his commitment to the ideals of justice would remain unchanged. He added that his allegiance to the Constitution, his faith in the rule of law, and his commitment to the Republic would stay intact throughout his life.
Having served more than two decades in the Supreme Court, he described his retirement not merely as the end of his judicial career, but as the conclusion of a chapter in a legal journey spanning over 40 years.
Ashfaqul obtained his LLB and LLM degrees from Dhaka University before being enrolled as an advocate in District Court in 1983 and the High Court Division in 1985.
He was appointed as an Additional Judge of the High Court Division on 27 August 2003 and became a permanent judge on 27 August 2005. Subsequently, he was sworn in as a Justice of the Appellate Division on 8 December 2022.
During his speech, he highlighted the institutional strength of the judiciary, adding that it is a collective entity comprising judges, lawyers, officers, and employees. He said the dignity, independence, and public trust in the judiciary must be strengthened by everyone viewing the institution as their own.
He expressed hope that the bar and bench would continue to work together for the welfare of the judiciary and stated his intention to use his experience for the country’s benefit and judicial development in this new chapter of his life.
Addressing junior lawyers, the outgoing Justice stressed the importance of honesty, character, and regular study, identifying honesty as a legal expert’s greatest asset. He urged them to regularly study the Constitution, laws, and both domestic and international judgements, while encouraging the use of information technology for research.
Regarding future challenges, he said the necessity of reducing case backlogs and making the judicial process faster, more efficient, and service-oriented to meet public expectations.
Justice Ashfaqul further said that it is not enough for justice to be established, the public must also believe that justice has been served. He expressed optimism that the prudent use of technology and Artificial Intelligence (AI) would enhance judicial efficiency and ease access to justice.
To district-level judges, he advised remaining patient and fearless in the pursuit of justice despite limitations. Quoting Alexander Hamilton, he said the true power of the judiciary lies in judgement, independence, and public trust rather than force.
He concluded by adding that a judge’s loyalty belongs to the Constitution, the law, and their own conscience, rather than any individual or group.
