Bangladesh
Judiciary I understand there is a problem, but life first: Chief Justice
Dhaka, April 19: Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain said that even though the virtual bench could be extended in the case of coronavirus pandemic, now it is more important to save lives than livelihood. On Sunday, a six-judge virtual appeals bench headed by the chief justice demanded the introduction of several more virtual high court benches.
Ruhul Quddus Kajal, secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association, told the Chief Justice that at present, there are four virtual high court benches. Ramadan is going on, Eid is ahead. In this situation, the lawyers would have benefited if some more virtual benches of the High Court had been added.
He said the Supreme Court is functioning five days a week with the Appellate Division and the Chamber Court. So a few more virtual high court benches could be introduced. Moreover, in the last one year, lawyers have become accustomed to running virtual courts. So lawyers would have benefited if at least ten more virtual High Court benches had been introduced if necessary. I am the secretary of the Bar Association, so the lawyers always tell me about increasing the court. That is why I have repeatedly said this in front of you.
At that time Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain then said, ‘Listen, we have also come from Bar (Bar Association). We also understand the problems of lawyers. Both life and livelihood are important. But first life, then livelihood. '
Considering the risk of infection, the Appellate Division is now running with only 40 staff. The four virtual benches of the High Court are looking for a lot of staff. In this situation, it would take a thousand staff to run ten more High Court benches. Then they will be at risk of infection. We have taken such a decision considering all the issues.
