Judiciary running independently: PM

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Friday said the government has been working to continue to run the country's judiciary, legislature and administration independently since the Awami League assumed state power, report agencies.
The premier also thanked the judiciary for the verdict declaring the 15th amendment to the Constitution as illegal that stopped grabbing state power illegally and smoothened the path of democracy.
Through the verdict, the apex court had handed over the power, which was captured in the cantonment, to the people.
"The verdict will be written in red letters as it strengthened the democracy and stopped grabbing power illegally," she said.
She said her government has taken steps to build a smart judiciary system in the country in line with the 2041 vision of turning the country into Smart Bangladesh.
"We've made Digital Bangladesh. Now our vision is to build Smart Bangladesh by 2041. We've taken steps to make a smart judiciary as well," she said.
The premier was addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 'Smriti Chironjib' monument at Bangladesh Supreme Court.
She opened the monument constructed marking the golden jubilee of Bangladesh Supreme Court and laid the foundation stone of the 14-storey Record Bhaban of the Supreme Court.
Hasina said, "There would be a smart population, smart government, smart economy and smart society in the Smart Bangladesh. So, a smart judiciary is absolutely necessary in that case. You've already come a long way in this direction."
Jatiya Sangsad Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury was also present at the function presided over by Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique.
Law Minister Anisul Huq, Attorney General Abu Mohammad Amin Uddin and President of Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association Md Momtazuddin Fakir spoke on the occasion while SC Appellate Division's Justice Obaidul Hassan delivered the welcome speech.
The Prime Minister said the government will establish a law university in the country.
Talking about the introduction of the virtual court system in the wake of the backlog of cases intensified due to the Covid-19 pandemic, she said the backlog of cases has eased today due to the virtual court system.
"Today the cases are being disposed of and the people are getting justice quickly (due to virtual court)," she said, adding the people are enjoying the benefits of Digital Bangladesh made by her government.
The premier thanked the judges for reducing the backlog of cases by accepting it (the virtual court system).
She said now the cause list is available online and the people can see it staying in their houses.
The virtual courts are run and the system  has been introduced to deliver judgment in Bengali. The information regarding the disposal of the court's judgment is given online. Everyone can know the update of their cases, she added.
"I think these measures are making it very easy for the people of this country to get justice. So, the assurance and confidence of getting justice has returned among the people," she said.
She said justice, democratic rights, socio-economic rights and cultural rights of the people should remain guaranteed. "Bangladesh will move fast with its own course," she said.
The memorial monument was constructed aiming to protect the place from where Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman delivered a speech after inaugurating the journey of the country's apex court on December 18 in 1972. The names of 69 lawyers martyred during the 1971 Liberation War are inscribed in the monument.