Dhaka – In a maiden initiative, the Supreme Court authority has decided to observe the date of December 18 in every calendar year as the “Supreme Court Day”.
The apex court took the unanimous decision in a full-court meeting led by acting chief justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah. The full-court meeting held in the Judges Lounge of the Supreme Court, where all the Appellate Division judges and the High Court Division judges were present.
This year, the date of December 18 would remain in annual vacation as per its previous decision. Hence, the apex court authority fixed January 2, 2018 for celebrating the ‘Supreme Court Day’, which will observe on behalf of the year of 2017, Special Officer of the Supreme Court Barrister Saifur Rahman told the newsmen yesterday afternoon.
The apex court also appointed Special Officer of the Supreme Court Barrister Saifur Rahman as the spokesperson of the Supreme Court. As per the apex court decision, from now on he will provide official information on behalf of the Supreme Court, meeting sources said.
According to the sources, there was a wide discussion among the participants about the many internal affairs of the Supreme Court including to fix the date of ‘Supreme Court Day’ and giving information to the media. In sometimes, the apex court had to feel embarrassed due to the media report. Hence, the apex court officially appointed the Special Officer of the Supreme Court to give information so that the news can be more authentic, sources added.
In the full-court meeting, the apex court authority has also formed a five members committee led by Appellate Division judge, Justice Mirza Husain Haider to celebrate the ‘Supreme Court Day’. The other members include High Court Justices Syed Refaat Ahmed, Obaidul Hassan and M Enayetur Rahim. The committee will hold a meeting very soon ahead of January 2, the maiden celebration of the Supreme Court Day. The committee will take the decision of next course of action about the celebration of the Supreme Court Day, sources added.
Supreme Court sources said that the Supreme Court had on December 18 in 1972 started its activities formally in Bangladesh.
In 1971 East Pakistan became independent Republic of Bangladesh. On 9 January 1972 Bangladesh enacted the Supreme Court of Judicature Act to regularize the judicial system. The Act declared that the Supreme Court of Bangladesh consisted of the Appellate Division and the High Court Division. The High Court Division replaced the Dhaka High Court and Supreme Court of Pakistan was preceded by the Appellate Division.
As per Article 111 of the Constitution of Bangladesh, 1972, the Supreme Court judgments have binding effects and the article provides that the law declared by the Appellate Division shall be binding on the High Court Division and the law declared by either division of the Supreme Court shall be binding on all courts subordinate to it. – Staff Reporter
