Hasan Foez Siddique, the 23rd chief justice of Bangladesh, is going to retire on September 25 after serving for nearly two years as the chief of Bangladesh's judiciary. But as the Supreme Court vacation will be underway at that time, Thursday is essentially his last working day.
According to the rules, the Attorney General's Office and the Supreme Court Lawyers' Association gave him a farewell reception in courtroom No 1 of the Appellate Division.
The chief justice became emotional while speaking at the reception.
He said: "I remember my late parents with deep respect at this moment of farewell… They helped me during my struggle.”
Overcome with emotion, he became teary-eyed and could not speak for a minute.
The outgoing chief justice also said the judiciary should be kept free from political influence, and failure to do so would bring tumultuous times for the nation.
He also underscored the significance of the judiciary as the protector of fundamental rights and the defender of the Constitution, urging judges to demonstrate courage and fairness in their decisions.
Justice Hasan Foez Siddique was sworn in as the 23rd chief justice of Bangladesh on December 31, 2021.
He will turn 67 on September 25, which is the constitutional age limit for holding the office of chief justice.
Hasan Foez Siddique was born on September 26, 1956 in Kushtia.
He began his journey in the legal profession in 1981 after enrolling as a lawyer in Dhaka Judge's Court. He began practising in the High Court Division in 1983 before becoming an advocate at the Appellate Division in 1999.
In 2009, Hasan Foez Siddique was permanently appointed to the High Court Division as a judge, and in 2013 he ascended to the Appellate Division as a justice.
He has served as chairman of the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission since 2015.
His elder brother, Abu Bakar Siddique, is also a retired judge of the Appellate Division.