Judicial Independence Moving From Aspiration To Reality: CJ

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed on Thursday said that judicial independence in Bangladesh is shifting from aspiration to reality.

“With the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council now established, judicial independence is no longer a distant goal—it is becoming a lived reality,” he stated at a seminar in Barishal jointly organised by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

“These reforms are not mere technical adjustments; they are structural corrections designed to safeguard our Constitution and restore public trust,” he added.

The seminar, titled “Judicial Independence and Efficiency in Bangladesh,” concluded a year-long nationwide Judiciary Reform Roadmap campaign led by the chief justice with support from UNDP and other development partners.

The event gathered judges, legal professionals, ambassadors, and international partners to review progress and outline next steps for judicial reforms. It was part of a broader series tied to the implementation of the judicial reform roadmap. Earlier, eight similar seminars were held in Dhaka, Chattogram, Moulvibazar, Rajshahi, Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Khulna.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division presided over the Barishal seminar, where the chief justice served as the chief guest.

Justice Zubayer Rahman reaffirmed the judiciary’s pledge to maintain the highest standards. “We are committed to upholding the highest principles of judicial conduct and independence, so that justice is not only done but also seen to be done,” he remarked.

UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller lauded the chief justice’s reform roadmap, describing it as a cornerstone of the interim government’s broader reform agenda.

“At its first anniversary, the roadmap is more than a document—it has become a widely supported manifesto for transformation. The regional seminars have breathed life into its goals, strengthening their impact where it matters most,” Liller noted.