Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court emphasized that the strength and independence of the judiciary rest on the collective efforts of judges, lawyers, and all stakeholders. Speaking at his farewell reception, organized jointly by the Office of the Attorney General and the Supreme Court Bar Association, he expressed 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.
On his last day as a judge, Justice Ashfaqul highlighted that Bangladesh's constitution is not just a governing document but 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 Kazol and Supreme Court Bar Association President AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon spoke about Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam's illustrious judicial career. The event was attended by his colleague judges from both divisions of the Supreme Court and numerous lawyers.
Justice Md Ashfaqul Islam, born on July 15, 1959, obtained his LLB (Hons) 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. He was elevated as Additional Judge of the High Court Division on August 27, 2003, appointed Judge of the same division on August 27, 2005, and elevated to the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on December 8, 2022.
