Dhaka: British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Sarah Cooke paid a courtesy call on Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed at the Chief Justice's office, where they exchanged greetings and discussed various aspects regarding the judiciary.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Justice highlighted the various steps he has taken to develop the judiciary of Bangladesh in the past year. Public Relations Officer of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Md. Shafiqul Islam, confirmed the meeting took place.
During the meeting, the British High Commissioner congratulated the Chief Justice on his one-year tenure and appreciated his efforts and work plan to achieve institutional independence of the judiciary. The Chief Justice announced a roadmap for judicial reform to establish a strong, independent, and impartial judiciary. This includes issuing 12-point instructions to bring transparency in judicial services and introducing a capacity test to provide legal aid to defendants.
Further initiatives by the Chief Justice include formulating a law for the appointment of judges to the apex court through the Supreme Judicial Council, launching a Supreme Court helpline for trial seekers, and taking developmental activities to enhance the capacity of subordinate courts.
Sarah Cooke expressed hope that the Chief Justice's leadership will play a vital role in establishing good governance and justice in Bangladesh. She assured that the UK will provide full support to Bangladesh in its efforts to establish a robust judiciary.