Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal (BASAD) General Secretary Bazlur Rashid Firoz on Tuesday expressed deep concern over the government’s decision to abolish the independent Supreme Court Secretariat, warning that the move undermines efforts to establish an independent judiciary in Bangladesh.

In a statement issued on May 20, Firoz said the people of Bangladesh had long struggled for an independent judicial system free from executive control, describing judicial separation as essential for ensuring democratic rule of law.

He noted that the BNP had also pledged judicial independence in its election manifesto and its proposed 31-point state reform agenda. However, he criticised the current government for reversing progress made in November last year, when an independent Supreme Court Secretariat was established as part of judicial reform efforts.

Firoz said the decision to dissolve the body contradicted public expectations and represented a breach of commitments made regarding judicial independence. He called on the government to immediately reinstate the independent Supreme Court Secretariat in line with what he described as the people’s democratic aspirations.

The BASAD leader also voiced concern over the draft Human Rights Commission law, alleging that it reflected practices associated with past authoritarian governments. He criticised provisions that would reportedly assign investigations into enforced disappearances and human rights violations to law enforcement agencies instead of an independent human rights commission.

Firoz further condemned proposed changes to the definition of enforced disappearance, arguing that legitimising detention in the name of state security could increase incidents of disappearances and broader human rights abuses.

He urged the government to establish a fully independent human rights commission and enact complementary legislation to ensure public safety, prevent enforced disappearances and strengthen the protection of human rights in the country.

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