Dhaka, 1 December 2025 – The interim government has taken a historic step toward full judicial independence by issuing the Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance, 2025, formally separating the judiciary from the executive and establishing an independent Supreme Court Secretariat. The gazette, published late Sunday night under Article 93(1) of the Constitution, states that a distinct secretariat is essential to fulfilling the objectives of Articles 22, 109, and 116, ensuring proper supervision, control, and discipline of the subordinate judiciary. This move follows a long constitutional journey that began with the 1972 Constitution, which originally vested authority over subordinate judges in the Supreme Court before the Fourth and Fifth Amendments transferred those powers to the President, effectively bringing the judiciary under executive influence. In recent years, legal challenges questioned the constitutionality of these amendments, culminating in a High Court ruling on 2 September 2025 that restored the original Article 116 and directed the government to establish a separate secretariat within three months. Acting on a proposal submitted by Chief Justice Syed Refat Ahmed on 27 October 2024, which included a draft ordinance, organogram, and revised Rules of Business, the interim government’s Advisory Council approved the ordinance on 20 November 2025. According to the ordinance, the newly established Supreme Court Secretariat will operate under the direct authority of the Chief Justice and be headed by a Secretary with senior secretary status, responsible for supervising all subordinate courts, tribunals, administrative functions, and judicial personnel matters. The Secretariat will have direct communication authority with any ministry or government body, underscoring its institutional autonomy. A Supreme Court Secretariat Commission, chaired by the Chief Justice and including the Law Minister or Advisor, a nominated Appellate Division Judge, the National Human Rights Commission Chairperson, and the Attorney General, will provide guidance on judicial administration and capacity development. Supreme Court spokesperson Md. Moazzem Hossain described the ordinance as the realization of a long-awaited institutional reform, marking a transformative moment in Bangladesh’s judicial history as the dream of a fully independent judicial secretariat finally becomes a reality.