Barrister Ruhul Quddus becomes 18th AG

Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, a senior Supreme Court lawyer, has been appointed as the 18th attorney-general (AG) of Bangladesh.
President Mohammed Shahabuddin made the appointment under Article 64(1) of the Constitution, said a gazette notification issued on Wednesday by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.
Article 64(1) empowers the president to appoint a person qualified to be a judge of the Supreme Court as the attorney general, who serves as the chief law officer of the state, advising the government and handling its legal affairs.
The post had remained vacant since the resignation of former Attorney General Md Asaduzzaman on December 27 last year, as he contested the February 12 national election as a BNP candidate from Jhenaidah-1.
On January 1, Additional Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf was given the responsibility of attorney general.
Following the issuance of the gazette notification, Md Ruhul Quddus joined as the attorney general on Wednesday afternoon.
Ruhul Quddus had been serving as a member of the BNP's executive committee and as the senior joint secretary general of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum. He previously served as secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
He was also elected as a member of the Bangladesh Bar Council and had been serving as chairman of its executive committee.
He began his legal career in 1995 as a lawyer at the Dhaka District and Sessions Judge's Court. In 1996, he was enrolled as an advocate of the High Court Division, and in 2008, he became an advocate of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. He was elevated to the status of senior advocate of the Supreme Court in 2023.
Ruhul Quddus also served as a diplomatic official of the Bangladesh government. He was posted at the Bangladesh High Commission in London, United Kingdom, from 2003 to 2006.
During his student life, he was involved in journalism. He obtained his LLB (Honours) degree from the University of Dhaka in 1993 and an LLM in 1994.
In 2005, he earned another LLB (Honours) degree from the University of London. He completed the Bar Vocational Course from City University London in 2006 and, in the same year, was called to the Bar at Lincoln's Inn in the United Kingdom.
Speaking to reporters at his chamber at the Supreme Court Bar Association, newly appointed Attorney General Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal said he would perform his duties in accordance with law, ethics and principles.

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