United News of Bangladesh

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Wednesday told Parliament that the conduct of Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, MP, that prompted Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and other Appellate Division judges to leave the courtroom was not proper. “The way the Honourable Chief Justice left the court yesterday (Tuesday) has certainly made us feel that the conduct demonstrated by the lawyer was not proper,” he said while responding to an issue raised by opposition Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami lawmaker Muhammad Nazibur Rahman (Pabna-1). On Tuesday, the Chief Justice along with four other judges of the Appellate Division left the courtroom after Khokon commented about lawyers’ "declining" incomes during his tenure. Nazibur Rahman raised the issue in the House, saying an “unfortunate” and “undesirable” incident took place in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on Tuesday involving the SCBA president and the Chief Justice. He said the Chief Justice and all judges of the Appellate Division left the courtroom following the incident and did not return to court that day. Nazibur said the government should clarify its position on the incident, stressing the importance of maintaining the independence of the judiciary. “We talk about the independence of the judiciary. The judiciary is the last resort for people to get justice. We should think about what message such an incident is sending to the people,” he said. Responding to the issue, Asaduzzaman said the question raised by the lawmaker certainly warranted discussion, but the theory of separation of powers did not apply to the incident in the manner suggested. “The conduct was demonstrated by one of the lawyers, who happens to be the president of the Supreme Court Bar Association,” he said. The minister said the SCBA is not a partner or part of any of the three organs of the state --- the judiciary, the legislative and the executive. “It is an informal body. It is an association of members who practise in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh,” he said. Asaduzzaman said the lawyer, as a member of the public, did not represent the judiciary, legislature or executive. “That does not mean justifying that,” he said, making clear that he did not consider the lawyer’s conduct appropriate. The minister said there had been concern after the Chief Justice left the courtroom on Tuesday, as it was initially thought that he might initiate contempt proceedings. “But today (Wednesday), when the Honourable Chief Justice came at 9:00am, we thought he might issue a contempt rule. But after coming, he resumed his regular work,” he said. Asaduzzaman also said he had learnt that the lawyer concerned appeared before the Chief Justice’s court on Wednesday and conducted his case normally. He expressed the expectation that no such incident shall occur in the future and that everyone will act as responsible citizens. Later, Khokon, who is also a ruling party MP, wanted to talk about the issue in the House, but Deputy Speaker Barrister Kayser Kamal did not allow him.

President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir on Monday stressed the need to expand and make more effective alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and village court systems to help reduce the growing backlog of cases. He made the remarks when Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury paid a courtesy call on him at Bangabhaban. During the meeting, the Chief Justice congratulated Mirza Fakhrul on assuming office as the President. He briefed the President on various activities of the Supreme Court, court proceedings and the challenges facing the judiciary. President’s Press Secretary Md Sarwar Alam provided UNB with the details of the meeting. The Chief Justice highlighted various problems facing the judiciary, including a growing backlog of cases, shortage of skilled manpower and infrastructural constraints, and sought the President’s cooperation in addressing them. He said more cases are being filed every day than the number being disposed of, making it increasingly difficult to reduce the backlog. Mirza Fakhrul assured the Chief Justice of taking necessary steps to address the existing problems in the judiciary. The President’s Secretary, Military Secretary and Press Secretary were present at the meeting.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury on Sunday (December 28, 2025) took oath as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh. President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath at Bangabhaban at 10:30am on Sunday. Chief Adviser Prof Muhammad Yunus, among others, attended the oath-takig ceremony. Earlier, on December 23, President Shahabuddin appointed him as the new Chief Justice. On Saturday, Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed retired from his post.  Read more: 'No law can safeguard freedom if minds are corrupted': Chief Justice in farewell address Born on May 18, 1961, Justice Zubayer is the son of the late AFM Abdur Rahman Chowdhury, who also served as a judge of the Supreme Court. Obtaining LLB (Honours) and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka, he did a master’s degree from the United Kingdom on international law. He started his career as a lawyer in the district judges’ court in 1985 and at the High Court (HC) in 1987. On August 27, 2003, he was appointed as an additional judge of the HC Division, with his position made permanent two years later. Read more: Justice Zubayer Rahman made Bangladesh's new Chief Justice President Shahabuddin appointed him as a justice of the Appellate Division on August 12, 2024, and he took oath the following day, on August 13.