Judges for Supreme Court will now be appointed through an independent council.
The Supreme Judicial Appointment Ordinance, 2025, which contains this provision, was issued on Tuesday.
Additionally, initiatives have been taken to establish a separate judicial secretariat for the Supreme Court and launch a permanent Attorney Service.
At a press conference this afternoon at the Secretariat, Law Adviser Prof Asif Nazrul announced these decisions and initiatives.
Announcing the gazette of the Supreme Judicial Appointment Ordinance, 2025, the legal adviser said the ordinance establishes a council for appointing judges to higher courts.
The six-member council will consist of the chief justice, two judges of the Appellate Division (one retired, one serving), two judges of the High Court, and the Attorney General.
Asif Nazrul outlined the judge appointment process under this council.
The council, named the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council, will independently collect names of potential candidates.
Additionally, any individual or lawyer can apply or propose names.
After an initial screening, the council will conduct interviews.
The law adviser expressed hope that the next appointments to the High Court will follow this process.
Asif Nazrul emphasized that during past governments, the higher courts became platforms for injustice, human rights violations, and oppression.
People were often denied redress because judges were appointed based on political considerations, sometimes lacking competence.
A former judge had once described the appointments as causing a "catastrophe."
He said that if qualified, experienced, and impartial individuals are not appointed transparently to the higher courts, the human rights of the 170 million people of the country will remain unresolved and at risk.
He also said that society had long demanded such a transparent and accountable process, and this new ordinance aims to fulfill that demand.
The law adviser also announced progress toward establishing a separate judicial secretariat for the Supreme Court, a longstanding demand in society.
He said that the initiative is being undertaken but requires detailed examination.
Last month, a notification from the Supreme Court administration said that steps were being taken to implement the verdict in the Masdar Hossain case to ensure judicial independence by establishing a separate judicial secretariat.
The government is also taking steps to introduce a permanent Attorney Service, Asif Nazrul said.
He explained that public prosecutors are often accused of acting in favor of ruling parties instead of representing the state impartially because of politically influenced appointments.
The solution is to establish a permanent Attorney Service.
Work on drafting the law has begun, and the adviser hopes to complete it within a month.
He further said that the Ministry of Law has started certifying 36 types of documents online since December 13, as part of ongoing reforms.