The chief justice of Bangladesh (Bengali: বাংলাদেশের প্রধান বিচারপতি – Baṅladeśer Prodhan Bicarpoti) is the highest-ranking judge of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the head of the country's judiciary, overseeing both the Supreme Court and all subordinate courts. The chief justice is appointed by the president of Bangladesh. The chief justice sits in the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court with other judges to hear and decide cases, presides over meetings of the full Supreme Court to transact business relating to administration of the court, and supervises the discipline of the judges and magistrates of the subordinate courts. Most rules for regulating the practice and procedure of both the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court—including those applicable to subordinate courts and specified in legislative acts such as the Companies Act 1994 and the Banking Companies Act 1991—are duly scrutinized and approved in full court meetings presided over by the chief justice. He also distributes judicial business of the High Court Division by constituting different benches to exercise its original, appellate and revisable jurisdictions.
Administrative control—including the power to create posts, grant promotion and approve leave—and disciplinary authority over judges and magistrates of the subordinate courts are exercised by the president in consultation with the Supreme Court. Urgent matters in this regard are dealt with in consultation with the chief justice.
Contents
Appointment procedure
Clause (3) of Article 48 of the Constitution of Bangladesh states: "Except for the appointment of the Prime Minister under clause (3) of Article 56 and the Chief Justice under clause (1) of Article 95 of this Constitution, the President shall perform all other functions in accordance with the advice of the Prime Minister"; and under the power granted by Article 95(1), the Honourable President of Bangladesh appoints the Chief Justice. Moreover, under Article 96(1) of the Constitution, a judge may serve up to the age of 67.