Chief Justice (CJ) Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed said the separate secretariat under the Supreme Court is on the verge of establishment.
He said the establishment of a secretariat would play a crucial role in achieving the full separation of powers and safeguarding the judiciary’s dignity and relevance.
The CJ made the statement while addressing a regional seminar on judicial independence and efficiency, jointly organized by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and UNDP today (April 5).
The event was held at the Grand Palace Hotel in Rangpur, where he spoke as the chief guest.
The Chief Justice emphasized the judiciary’s pivotal role in ensuring justice and rule of law, underscoring the progress made in implementing the judicial reform roadmap.
He highlighted that these reforms are integral not only to sectoral improvements but also to the sustainability of the state's broader reforms.
"Judicial reform is now synonymous with reform itself," he said, stressing that the judiciary's efforts to drive its own internal reforms had gained unprecedented momentum.
The seminar, which focused on strengthening judicial service delivery and ensuring the independence of the judiciary, was chaired by Justice Zafar Ahmed of the High Court Division.
UNDP’s Resident Representative Stefan Liller delivered the welcome address, and British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke also attended as a special guest.
Judges from various Rangpur tribunals, including the District and Sessions Judge Courts, the Metropolitan Sessions Judge Court, the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court, and the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Court, were present.
The seminar also saw participation from the Rangpur District Bar Association president and general secretary, government lawyers, public prosecutors, and other invited guests.
In his address, Stefan Liller praised the Chief Justice's judicial reform roadmap, calling it a timely and necessary step for the institutional independence of Bangladesh’s judiciary.
He reiterated UNDP’s commitment to supporting the modernization of the judiciary during this critical phase.
BDST: 1451 HRS, APR 05, 2025
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