Rajshahi: Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed emphasized the necessity of establishing an Independent Prosecution Service and a Supreme Court Secretariat to bolster the independence of the nation’s judiciary. He made these remarks during a regional seminar on Judicial Independence and Efficiency in Bangladesh, organized by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the Chief Justice underscored the pivotal role of the judiciary in upholding justice and the rule of law, as highlighted in a press release issued by Shafiqul Islam, Public Relations Officer of the Supreme Court’s Appellate Division. Dr. Ahmed discussed the progress on a newly announced roadmap for judicial reform, including an ordinance for appointing High Court judges. He stressed the importance of an independent prosecution service and the establishment of an SC Secretariat.
The Chief Justice identified weak investigations and unprofessional prosecution as major obstacles to justice in Bangladesh. He advocated for necessary training to enhance prosecutors’ skills, enabling them to effectively uphold justice. He also reiterated his commitment to establishing the SC Secretariat, which he argued would support the institutional independence and autonomy of the judiciary.
The proposed Supreme Court Secretariat is expected to ensure transparency in judicial policy formulation and implementation, adequate budget allocation, and infrastructure development. It would also make the transfer and promotion of judges more transparent. Dr. Ahmed noted that a detailed proposal for the SC Secretariat has been submitted to the government and is under active consideration.
The seminar was presided over by SC Appellate Division Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam, with UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller and various judicial officers from Rajshahi Division in attendance.