Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on Saturday said her government has taken various initiatives to ensure justice for people, attributing any country’s development to independent judiciary, strong parliament and administration.
“After assuming power, we’ve made the judiciary totally independent separating it from the administration, which was the vision of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she said.
The premier said this while addressing the closing session of the two-day International Conference on “South Asian Constitutional Courts in the Twenty-First Century: Lessons from Bangladesh and India” as the chief guest at Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) in the capital.
She said once judiciary was dependent on the government for financial ground. But, her government has separated the judiciary by allocating separate budget for it, she said. The Awami League government, as well, has enacted a law for the formulation of Election Commission (EC) as it was earlier attached to the Prime Minister’s Office, Sheikh Hasina said.
“We’ve also made the EC completely independent and allocated separate fund for it,” she said, adding, “That means, we believe it, and for that purpose, the Awami League government could make it.”
Apart from ensuring the independence of the judiciary, the government has made EC independent for the sake of election system so that it could ensure the rights of the people properly.
The prime minister said she wants the people of her country to get justice.
“Like us, they, as if, aren’t to be subjected to injustice. So, the rights of getting justice and democratic, economic, social and cultural rights of the countrymen will have to be ensured,” she said.
Highlighting initiatives taken by the Awami League government, she said since her government assumed office; they have started implementing different programs so that people get justice.
Referring to the government’s announcement to transform Bangladesh into Smart Country by 2041, Sheikh Hasina said, “I want the judiciary to be Smart as well.”
She said the government has included an article in the Constitution as per the High Court verdict declaring illegal grabbing of state power a punishable offence.
“By this inclusion, I can say that the basic democratic rights of the people are protected,” she added.
She extended her gratitude to the Chief Justice of Bangladesh as she described his various initiatives to make the Judiciary smart.
Sheikh Hasina also thanked the Higher Court for delivering verdict that declared illegal the 5th and 7th amendments of the Constitution done by the military rulers to grab state power through proclaiming martial law.
“It has contributed to the country’s socioeconomic advancement ensuring democratic consistency of the country since 2009. It also helped keep continuing stable situation in the country since then,” she observed.
She added that this historic verdict of the higher court gave breathing space of the people of the country.
Sheikh Hasina said it is a proven truth that getting justice in people’s life and socioeconomic development can only be done when the basic rights of the people are ensured and thus a country can move towards prosperity.
She continued: “By the 15th amendment of the Constitution we have strengthened the democracy.”
The head of the government said that Bangladesh has achieved the recognition of developing country which will come to effect from 2026.
“Inshaallah by 2041, we will be able to make country as developed and prosperous Golden Bangladesh to materialise the ideals of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman,” she added.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq spoke at the function as special guest while Indian Chief Justice Dr Dhananjaya Yeshwant Chandrachud spoke as guest of honour.
With Bangladesh Chief Justice Obaidul Hassan in the chair, Appellate Division Justice M. Enayetur Rahim delivered the welcome address.