SC has history of protecting Constitution, human rights: President

President Abdul Hamid on Tuesday said the Supreme Court has the history of protecting the Constitution and ensuring people's human rights whenever needed during the critical time of the nation.

Speaking at a function at the Judges' Sports Complex of Bangladesh Supreme Court marking the first-ever Supreme Court (SC) Day, he also focused on having good terms and coordination among the three state organs, saying they are not competitors rather cooperative to each other.

"It's seen analysing the history that the Supreme Court protected the Constitution and established people's basic human rights discharging the responsibilities bestowed upon it whenever necessary during the critical time of the nation," the President said.

He hoped that the Supreme Court will make positive contributions to flourishing democracy, socio-economic progress and establishing the rule of law in the future as it did in the past.

Abdul Hamid recalled with deep gratitude its former brave judges who contributed to establishing the rule of law without compromising with their conscience and bowing down at gunpoint.

He also mentioned the important role of lawyers in establishing justice and the rule of law, and hoped that they will help ensure prompt justice for people with their intellect, wisdom, honesty, sincerity, and exercising knowledge more and more.

Stating that it is the time of digitisation with smart phones available in people's hands, the President asked the Supreme Court administration to bring dynamism into case management using all the facilities of the information technology.

"Steps will have to be taken to carry out the official tasks of the country's all the courts in digital system...as the Supreme Court is the Court of Record, efforts must be taken to turn its all files and records into digital ones," he said.

Abdul Hamid also asked the Supreme Court administration to take steps for preserving all the activities from filing cases to delivering verdicts in digital system.

"The measures can be taken to produce the accused before court from the jail and take depositions of witnesses through videoconferencing. The Supreme Court will have to be active in implementing the e-judiciary in the future as the government is very sincere about it," he advised.

Mentioning that the Supreme Court has the judicial review power, the President urged the judges to perform their major responsibilities with utmost caution.

He laid emphasis on having good relation among the executive, legislative and judiciary for establishing democracy and the rule of law. "It should be remembered that mutual cooperation and trust are very crucial for the success of the each organ."

Abdul Hamid also asked all to keep it in mind so that any organ's activities do not hamper that of others as well as the national interests. "All the branches must give priority to the welfare of the country and its people."

"The role of the judiciary is very important in ensuring the rule of law, protecting people's basic and human rights and establishing participatory democracy," he observed.

Abdul Hamid hoped that the Supreme Court Day will now be observed every year with due reverence.

Presided over by the acting chief justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah, the discussion programme was addressed, among others by, Law Minister Anisul Huq, Justice Mirza Hossain Haider, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and vice-chairman of Bangladesh Bar Council senior counsel Abdul Baset Majumder.

Bar Association President Joynul Abedin also addressed programme.

Earlier, the President planted a sapling of Spanish Cherry (Bakul) on the complex.