Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has underscored the urgent need for sweeping reforms in Bangladesh's judiciary, mentioning that political appointments of judges have undermined its integrity, reports UNB.
"The appointment of judges based on political loyalty in the High Court is a major factor behind the collapse of Bangladesh's judiciary. No matter how sensitive or contentious the term 'reform' is, we have no alternative to it," he said.
The adviser came up with the remarks while speaking at a dialogue titled 'Dialogue for Democratic Reconstruction on Judiciary' organised by The Centre for Governance Studies at the Cirdap Auditorium in the capital on Monday.
Criticising the recruitment culture, he said, "If judges are appointed based on their allegiance to political slogans like 'Jai Bangla' or 'Zindabad', there can be no hope for justice. We need to rethink our approach and provide actionable frameworks, such as charts, for tracking progress instead of merely issuing recommendations."
Regarding the issue of lower court independence, he said, "We often focus solely on ensuring the independence of the lower courts, which typically means their accountability to the High Court. But if the High Court itself is the most corrupt and politically loyal institution, how can we ensure judicial independence?"
To ensure greater transparency, Asif Nazrul recommended establishing an independent secretariat or Registrar General's office for the High Court. "This proposal, initiated by the Chief Justice, is under consideration, and we plan to hold consultations on its implementation," he said.
He also emphasised the need for a 'Permanent Prosecution Service' to eliminate political interference in the Attorney General's Office and the Public Prosecution Office. "Such a system was proposed during the 1/11 regime but abandoned by the Awami League. We aim to implement this within six months," he added.
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