When the new chief justice (CJ) took oath on December 28, 2025, he did so at a moment of acute constitutional importance. Bangladesh is navigating a fragile democratic transition under a interim government, following landmark judicial decisions that revived the constitutional provision for a caretaker government during elections. Promises of judicial independence that have long existed on paper are now being tested against institutional reality. Public expectations are, therefore, high that the newly sworn-in CJ will uphold the rule of law, steering the courts through reforms that are long overdue.
The chief justice comes to the office with formidable credentials and a reputation for integrity. Educated at Dhaka University, where he obtained both his LLB and LLM, and later in the UK with a master’s degree in international law, he has served on the bench for more than two decades. Appointed to the High Court Division in 2003 and elevated to the Appellate Division in 2024, he has earned respect for legal rigour and restraint. Notably, despite his seniority and qualifications, he was overlooked for elevation during the previous regime and rose only after the political changeover, strengthening the perception that his appointment is grounded in merit rather than patronage.
That perception is reinforced by his judicial record. Earlier in 2025, he authored a strongly worded verdict criticising what he described as a “troubling trend” of judicial bias in favour of the executive, warning that such conduct was incompatible with constitutional governance. In open court, he has spoken with unusual candour about the historical marginalisation of the judiciary, observing that successive law ministers have shown disregard for judicial independence once in power. Such remarks are rare in Bangladesh’s judicial culture and have enhanced his credibility as a judge willing to speak truth to power. Upon assuming office, he issued firm directions to lower court judges to deliver judgments without delay and maintain professional discipline, signalling zero tolerance for corruption or complacency.
One of the most immediate challenges before the CJ is translating a historic structural reform into tangible institutional change. In November 2025, Bangladesh established a separate Supreme Court Secretariat, ending decades of executive control over judicial administration. Widely described as a milestone in the separation of powers, the reform places responsibility for postings, promotions, discipline and administration of the lower judiciary under the authority of the Supreme Court rather than the law ministry. This has the potential to transform judicial independence from a constitutional aspiration into an operational reality. But symbolism alone will not suffice. The secretariat must evolve into an effective administrative backbone capable of improving efficiency, accountability and professionalism within the courts.
The new chief justice now effectively oversees this nascent institution. That responsibility requires clear administrative rules, adequate resources, and resistance to bureaucratic inertia. It also requires vigilance against future executive encroachment, particularly since the ordinance established that the secretariat must still be ratified by the next parliament to become permanent law. The CJ must, therefore, demonstrate its practical value through measurable improvements. If it fails to deliver, the reform risks being dismissed as cosmetic. If it succeeds, it may become one of the most enduring institutional changes in the judiciary’s history.
Equally consequential is the Supreme Court Judges’ Appointment Ordinance, 2025. For decades, appointments to the higher judiciary were criticised for opacity and political influence. The new ordinance seeks to introduce a merit-based and structured process by establishing a Supreme Judicial Appointment Council chaired by the CJ. He now sits at the centre of the appointment process, with significant influence over who ascends to the bench. This offers an opportunity to rebuild public confidence by prioritising competence, integrity and independence.
The council has already recommended several appointments to both the Appellate Division and High Court, easing long-standing vacancies. However, the ordinance has also attracted criticism regarding the structure of the process, including the use of inflexible age criteria, as well as the concentration of decision-making authority within a limited institutional framework. These concerns do not negate the reform but underline the importance of transparent and principled implementation. The CJ’s conduct as chair will therefore be decisive. By ensuring openness and resisting informal influence, he can help turn a contested reform into a credible and lasting framework for judicial appointments.
Beyond internal reform, the new CJ must guide the judiciary through sensitive constitutional and public interest disputes. In recent months, the Supreme Court has demonstrated an assertiveness unseen in years, restoring the caretaker government provisions removed in 2011, reaffirming judicial control over lower court administration, and addressing questions of judicial accountability. These decisions have served to reposition the judiciary as an active constitutional guardian, while also exposing it to political controversy. The CJ was part of the benches that made these decisions, reinforcing expectations that he would continue to defend constitutional principles even when doing so invited resistance.
Further challenges lie ahead as Bangladesh transitions towards an elected government. Disputes over electoral processes, accountability for past abuses, freedom of expression, and the rule of law will test judicial independence and restraint. Although the interim authorities have withdrawn thousands of politically motivated cases, deeper structural injustices remain unresolved. The CJ must ensure that courts remain forums for impartial adjudication rather than instruments of political retribution or protection. His repeated emphasis that the judiciary must never be politicised now demands institutional follow-through.
Perhaps the most daunting task confronting the new chief justice is the overwhelming backlog of cases. By the end of 2025, more than 46 lakh cases were pending nationwide. The country’s judge-population ratio remains among the lowest in the region, compounding delays caused by procedural inefficiencies and weak case management. The CJ has already emphasised discipline, timely judgments, and full utilisation of court hours. These measures are necessary, but not sufficient. Sustainable progress will require credible appointments, expanded judicial capacity, alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, and effective use of technology. The Supreme Court Secretariat can play a central coordinating role, but success will depend on consistent leadership.
The new CJ begins his tenure with rare momentum. Structural reforms, judicial assertiveness, and public goodwill have converged in a way few of his predecessors experienced. But expectations can be unforgiving. His legacy will be measured by the delivery of outcomes long desired by the nation: a judiciary that is independent in fact, transparent in appointments, efficient in administration, and capable of delivering justice within a reasonable time. At this crucial crossroads, Bangladesh needs judicial leadership equal to the moment.
Barrister Khan Khalid Adnan is advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, fellow at the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, and head of the chamber at Khan Saifur Rahman and Associates in Dhaka.
Views expressed in this article are the author's own.
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