Judges of lower courts in Dhaka Division have demanded an increase in the judiciary’s budget and financial independence for judges, with Chief Justice Zobayer Rahman Chowdhury expressing support for their demands.
At an event at the Supreme Court’s Judges Sports Complex on Saturday, judges from all districts of Dhaka Division – including District and Sessions Judges, Metropolitan Sessions Judges, Chief Judicial Magistrates, and Chief Metropolitan Magistrates – raised the demands.
The judges also demanded urgent infrastructure reform to address shortages of courtrooms, chambers, record rooms, morgues, and residential facilities. They called for ensuring court and judge security, digitalisation, and necessary logistical support.
In his address to members of the Bangladesh Judicial Service working in Dhaka Division, the chief justice said he is working to increase the judiciary’s financial capacity, develop infrastructure, ensure digitalisation and judge security, provide domestic and foreign training, establish medical centres and day-care centres in every district court, develop speech-to-text software, and ensure necessary facilities for judges.
He called on judges to perform their duties with honesty, dedication, and professionalism to ensure justice for litigants, overcoming existing limitations.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman, who was present as a special guest, emphasised the need for infrastructure development, financial independence for judges, and increased budget allocation for the judiciary.
Notably, the 2026-27 fiscal year budget has allocated Tk2,187 crore for the Law and Justice Division, Tk347 crore for state-run Bangladesh Television, and only Tk291 crore for the Supreme Court.
Judicial officials say such limited allocation for the judiciary — which is central to upholding the rule of law and constitutional rights — raises serious questions about state priorities.
