Abolition of Secretariat ‘Black Day’ for independence of Judiciary: Shishir Monir

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Jamaat-e-Islami central working council member and lawyer Shishir Monir commented that the day of abolishing the judicial secretariat is a “black day” for the independence of the judiciary. In his words, ‘This is a black day for independence of judiciary.’

This lawyer said that by abolishing the judicial secretariat, the independence of the judiciary has been slapped. This has undermined public confidence and blocked the way for the independence of the judiciary.

Shishir Monir said this in a press conference organized on Thursday afternoon to protest against the abolition of the Supreme Court Secretariat and its attachment to the Ministry of Law. Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami organized this press conference at the party’s central office in Moghbazar of the capital.

Shishir Monir pointed out that even though various initiatives have been taken since independence, the judiciary could not achieve independence due to the military regime. He said that on September 2, 2025, the High Court in a judgment ordered the establishment of a separate judicial secretariat within 90 days. In view of this, the interim government issued an ordinance on November 30 last year and established a separate secretariat. Later, the secretariat was inaugurated under the leadership of Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed. However, on April 9, the government canceled the ordinance. A writ petition was filed against it and a contempt notice was issued. In this situation, the final nail has been hammered in the coffin of the judicial secretariat by placing 15 people including the senior secretary of the judicial department under the law ministry.

Shishir Monir also mentioned that all but one party, including the BNP, agreed on the establishment of an independent judiciary secretariat in Article 36 of the July National Charter. He said, “A civilized society cannot be developed if the judges are not allowed to work independently.” If the government takes any decision that is not constitutional, not legal, the judges will see it and judge it. Whatever the parties decide, I will appeal if I am dissatisfied. But I will transfer the judges, not promote them, send them to Sundarbans, Bandarbans – this cannot be the character of an independent judiciary.’

Shishir Monir also commented that the responsibility of transfer, leave and promotion of lower court judges should be with the Supreme Court instead of the law ministry. According to him, the law ministry will want to control it only if there is an intention to sit the court at three o’clock in the morning, in the afternoon or in the evening to punish whoever it wants.

In response to a question from journalists, Jamaat Assistant Secretary General Hamidur Rahman Azad said that in each case the July Charter is being attacked one after another. The main objective of all is to re-establish an authoritarianism within the state. He claimed that if the trend of keeping the judiciary under executive control continues, the path of people to get justice will be narrowed.

Hamidur Rahman Azad said, ‘The previous government has shown the way, this government is following these ways in every case. So the people have shown the same path to the previous government, they also have to follow that path.

Jamaat Central Executive Council member Mubarak Hossain, Head of Publicity and Media Department Ehsanul Mahbub Zubair, Dhaka Metropolitan North Publicity and Media Secretary Ataur Rahman and others were also present in the press conference.