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Published : 21 May 2026, 06:35 PM
The abolition of the Supreme Court Secretariat amounts to a “slap” to the judiciary, Jamaat-e-Islami has said while criticising the government’s decision.
Lawyer Shishir Manir, a member of the party's central working council, expressed their position at a press conference at the Jamaat headquarters in Dhaka’s Moghbazar on Thursday.
The “trust and confidence” created nationally has been destroyed through the abolition of the Supreme Court Secretariat, according to the party.
On Apr 9, the parliament repealed three ordinances issued by the interim government regarding the appointment of Supreme Court Secretariat and Supreme Court judges.
On Tuesday, the government recalled 15 judicial service officers and judges, previously assigned to the now-defunct Supreme Court secretariat, to the Law and Justice Division.
The next day, Supreme Court lawyer Shishir condemned the move, branding the action a direct “contempt of court”.
He also announced his plan to launch a fresh legal battle in the High Court if the government completes the process without filing an appeal by Jun 7.
“Through this, the path to the independence of the judiciary has been blocked,” the lawyer said.
“In our words, this will be a Black Day for an independent judiciary.”
Alleging that the judiciary "never gained independence" due to BAKSAL and military rule, he narrated how the judiciary was first separated from the magistracy in 2007 following the 1999 Supreme Court verdict in the Masdar Hossain case.
The interim government on Nov 30 last year issued the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025, aiming to ease and streamline administration at the apex court and advance full judicial independence.
Explaining the process of appointing lower court judges, Shishir said the work is done under the leadership of a judge from the Appellate Division and the appointment process is transparent.
But their leave, transfer, promotion and discipline were all in the hands of the law ministry, said the lawyer.
“As a result, if the judges pass an order against the ministry, they are transferred, deprived of promotion and face disciplinary charges,” he added.
Shishir said the Supreme Court should be empowered to issue transfers, leave and promotions, or else, the judges of the subordinate courts will not be able to work independently.
He said the apex court will control judges, not the government or the ministry.
"We believe that restoring the judicial secretariat is very important to ensure the independence of the judiciary and justice for the people," he said.
