Judges Will Not Be Appointed After Chanting Party Slogans for 10 Years: Law Adviser Asif Nazrul

Interim government Law Adviser Asif Nazrul has said that anyone who has continuously chanted party slogans such as “Joy Bangla” or “Bangladesh Zindabad” for ten years will no longer be eligible to become a judge.

He emphasized that the judiciary must remain politically neutral to ensure the rule of law.

Speaking at a policy dialogue titled “Judicial Independence and the Rule of Law”, Nazrul said that all powers related to the judiciary currently rest with the higher courts. He stressed that political affiliation or overt political activism is incompatible with judicial responsibilities.

The remarks were made on Sunday (January 18) at the CIRDAP Auditorium, during an event organized by the Centre for Governance Studies. The dialogue focused on restoring public trust in the justice system and strengthening judicial independence in Bangladesh.

Nazrul stated that the interim government is committed to ensuring a transparent and impartial judiciary. He noted that judicial appointments must be based solely on merit, integrity, and professional competence, rather than political loyalty or past partisan behavior.

He further said that reforms are being considered to safeguard the independence of the judiciary and to prevent political influence over judicial processes. According to him, empowering the higher judiciary is a crucial step toward establishing the rule of law and democratic accountability in Bangladesh.

The policy dialogue was attended by legal experts, academics, civil society members, and senior journalists, many of whom echoed concerns about past politicization of the justice system and welcomed discussions on institutional reform.