Eight-member Judiciary Reform Commission formed

An eight-member Judiciary Reform Commission has been formed with the aim to make the judiciary independent, impartial and more effective.

Cabinet Division on Thursday issued a gazette notification in this regard.

According to the notification, the commission will be headed by Justice Shah Abu Naeem Mominur Rahman.

The other members are: Emdadul Haque, a former High Court justice and a former district and session judge; Farid Ahmed Shibli, also a retired High Court justice and a former district and session judge; former district and session judge Syedul Aminul Islam, who also served as a registrar of the Supreme Court; former district and session judge Masdar Hossain, who is also the plaintiff in the Masdar Hossain vs State case, Senior Supreme Court lawyer Tanim Hossain Shaon; Quazi Mahfujul Hoque Supan, associate professor, Department of Law, Dhaka University; and an unnamed student representative.

Mominur was appointed as an Appellate Division justice in July 2009. However, he resigned in May 2011 in protest after being passed over twice for promotion to chief justice.

The commission will begin its work on 3 October and submit reform proposals, prepared after consultation with all stakeholders, within the following 90 days to the chief adviser.

The Cabinet Division also said the office of the commission will be decided by the government.