Lesson 1/24 min
The Supreme Court: two divisions and its judges
The Supreme Court at a glance
- Part VI of the Constitution is about the judiciary; Article 94 establishes the Supreme Court
- Two divisions: the Appellate Division and the High Court Division
- The Chief Justice and the Appellate Division judges sit only in that division; the others sit in the High Court Division
- The number of judges is not fixed; the President appoints as needed
- The permanent seat is in the capital, Dhaka (Article 100); the High Court Division may sit elsewhere with the Chief Justice's decision and the President's approval
- It stands at Ramna in Dhaka and is commonly called the ‘High Court’
Appointment and retirement
| Point | Rule |
|---|---|
| Chief Justice | Appointed by the President (Article 95) |
| Other judges | Appointed by the President after consulting the Chief Justice |
| Qualification | At least 10 years as a Supreme Court advocate, or 10 years in judicial office |
| Retirement age | 67 years (Article 96) |
| Independence | Judges are independent in their judicial functions (Article 94(4)) |
Watch out: Some books write “Chapter 6”. The Constitution's divisions are called Parts: the judiciary is in Part VI.
The Chief Justice in 2026
- Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh
- Sworn in on 28 December 2025 (checked in 2026 on the official judiciary portal)
Check yourself
How many divisions does the Supreme Court have, and what are they?
At a glance
- 1
The Supreme Court is established by Article 94 with two divisions: the Appellate Division and the High Court Division.
- 2
The President appoints the Chief Justice; other judges are appointed after consulting the Chief Justice.
- 3
A judge retires at the age of 67 (Article 96).
- 4
The permanent seat is in Dhaka (Article 100); the Supreme Court stands at Ramna.
- 5
In 2026 the Chief Justice is Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury (26th, sworn in 28 December 2025).