No judge can interpret law properly without understanding roots of his civilisation: CJ

Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed has said that no reformer can be wise without a deep understanding of history, and no judge can properly interpret the law without appreciating the roots of their civilisation.

He made the remarks while addressing a function marking the 75th founding anniversary and reunion of Dhaka University’s Department of Islamic History and Culture at the Teachers-Students Centre (TSC) auditorium on Friday.

Paying tribute to his late mother, Professor Dr Sufia Ahmed – the country’s first female National Professor and a former student and teacher of the same department – the Chief Justice described her as part of a rare generation whose intellectual ambition was closely intertwined with moral values.

“Her life symbolised women’s academic empowerment and the ethical purity of education, which continues to inspire me,” he said.

Reflecting on the department’s legacy, the CJ said: “The 75-year journey of the Department of Islamic History and Culture is not merely a record of academic achievements but an inseparable chapter of the nation’s intellectual life.”

On judicial reform, he emphasised that the judiciary cannot rely solely on tradition but must remain relevant over time. “To stay relevant, the judiciary must reform itself,” he said, adding that over the past fifteen months, initiatives have been undertaken to ensure judicial autonomy, improve efficiency, and make justice more accessible.

The Chief Justice also noted that the Supreme Court is working to establish partnerships with judiciaries in Brazil, South Africa, Egypt, Palestine, and Thailand. “The purpose of such collaboration is to promote universal human values through interdisciplinary exchanges in law, history, and philosophy,” he said.

Describing the event as more than an academic celebration, he called it a reaffirmation of the department’s moral and intellectual influence, highlighting its contributions to Bangladesh’s intellectual heritage and the importance of humanistic values in the pursuit of knowledge.

The Chief Justice congratulated all teachers, students, and alumni of the department, wishing them continued success.

The event was inaugurated by Dhaka University Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Niaz Ahmed Khan, chaired by Professor Md Ataur Rahman Biswas, Chairperson of the Department of Islamic History and Culture, and attended by teachers, current and former students, and distinguished guests.