Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury Takes Oath as 26th Chief Justice

Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has officially taken office as the 26th Chief Justice of Bangladesh.

President Mohammed Shahabuddin administered the oath of office during a formal ceremony at the Durbar Hall of Bangabhaban today at approximately 10:35 am.

The event was attended by high-profile dignitaries, including Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus, members of the interim government, judges, chiefs of the three services, and leaders of the Supreme Court Bar Association. Cabinet Secretary Dr. Sheikh Abdur Rashid conducted the proceedings.

The appointment was made by President Shahabuddin under Article 95 (1) of the Constitution. The Law Ministry had previously issued a gazette notification on December 23, 2024, confirming that the appointment would take effect upon the swearing-in.

Justice Chowdhury succeeds the 25th Chief Justice, Syed Refaat Ahmed, whose tenure concluded on Saturday, December 27. Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury brings decades of legal expertise to the country’s highest judicial post.

He earned his LLB (Hons) and LLM from Dhaka University, followed by a Master’s degree in International Law from the United Kingdom.

He began his journey in the District Judges' Court in 1985 and was enrolled as a High Court Division advocate in 1987.

He was appointed as an additional judge of the High Court in 2003, becoming permanent in 2005. He was elevated to the Appellate Division on August 13, 2024.

Throughout his career, he has represented Bangladesh at international legal conferences and training programs in the UK, Canada, Belgium, Malaysia, and Singapore.