Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury appointed as the 26th Chief Justice of the country

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury of the Appellate Division has been appointed as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh by President Mohammed Shahabuddin.

On Wednesday (December 24), a notification was issued under the President’s approval, signed by the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Liaquat Ali Molla.

The notification stated that by virtue of the powers conferred by Article 95(1) of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the President has appointed Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, a judge of the Appellate Division of the Bangladesh Supreme Court, as the Chief Justice of Bangladesh.

The notification also mentioned that this appointment will take effect from the date of his oath-taking.

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was born on May 18, 1961. His father, the late AFM Abdur Rahman Chowdhury, was also a judge of the Supreme Court. After obtaining his LLB (Honors) and LLM degrees from the University of Dhaka, he completed another Master’s degree in International Law in the United Kingdom.

Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was enrolled as a lawyer in the District Court in 1985 and in the High Court Division of the Supreme Court in 1987. On August 27, 2003, Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury was appointed as an additional judge to the High Court Division. Two years later, his appointment to the High Court Division was made permanent.

On August 12, 2024, President Mohammed Shahabuddin appointed him as a judge of the Appellate Division, and he took his oath on August 13, 2024.

It has been reported that the new Chief Justice is scheduled to take his oath at Bangabhaban on December 28. According to the Constitution, the 25th Chief Justice of the country, Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, is retiring on December 27 upon reaching the age of 67.