Judiciary's strength rests on collective efforts: Justice Ashfaqul

Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court said on Tuesday that the strength and independence of the judiciary rest on the collective efforts of judges, lawyers and all stakeholders, expressing the hope that the Bar and the Bench would continue to work together to uphold justice.

"The strength of the judiciary is not the strength of any individual judge, nor is it the strength of any individual lawyer. It is the result of our collective efforts. Therefore, I hope that the Bar and the Bench will continue to work together for the betterment of the judiciary in the future as well," he said while addressing his farewell reception organised jointly by the Office of the Attorney General and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

The apex court judge on his last day on the podium said Bangladesh's constitution is not merely a document for governing the state, adding, it embodies the spirit of the nation's independence and its commitment to democracy, justice and the protection of human dignity.

"It is the responsibility of the judiciary to uphold that commitment. A judge's loyalty is not to any individual, group or authority. Rather, a judge's allegiance is to the constitution, the law and his or her own conscience," he added.

Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon spoke on the illustrious judicial career of Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam. His colleague judges from both the divisions of the Supreme Court and a good number of lawyers attended the function, among others.

Born on 15 July 1959, Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam obtained his LLB (Honours) and LLM from the University of Dhaka. He was enrolled as an advocate of the District Court and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court in 1983 and 1985, respectively.

Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam was elevated as an additional judge of the High Court Division on 27 August 2003 and appointed judge of the same division on 27 August 2005. He was elevated to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on 8 December 2022.