Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed spoke at inauguration of the two-day 14th Biennial International History Conference and General Assembly of the Bangladesh History Council at Dhaka University TSC today. Photo: BSS

DHAKA, May 2, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed today urged all to learn from the mistakes of the history and drive the country towards the right track.

"We must utilize the rare opportunity to learn from the mistakes of the history and lead the country on the right path," he said.

The Chief Justice said this while addressing as the chief guest at the inauguration of the two-day 14th Biennial International History Conference and General Assembly of the Bangladesh History Council at Dhaka University TSC here, a DU press release said.

"In the light of the experience of the student-people uprising, a rare and golden opportunity has come to lead Bangladesh on the path of peace and prosperity, and reorganize the country by learning from the mistakes of the history," he said.

Laying importance on collective effort to utilize this opportunity, he said, "If we cannot implement the hopes and aspirations of the people in the new Bangladesh, we will lag behind as a nation." 

Dhaka University (DU) Vice-Chancellor Professor Niaz Ahmed Khan inaugurated the program while President of Bangladesh History Council Professor Dr. Mohammad Ibrahim was in the chair.

Dean of DU arts faculty Professor Dr. Mohammad Siddiqur Rahman Khan spoke as special guest and Bangla Academy President Professor Abul Kasem Fazlul Haque presented the keynote paper.

Bangladesh History Council General Secretary Professor Dr. Abdul Bashir delivered the welcome address and Joint Secretary of the History Council Professor Suraiya Akhter gave the vote of thanks. Joint Secretary Professor Dr. AKM Khademul Haque conducted the program.

The Chief Justice urged the teachers to keep them above all political divide, saying, everyone should work together to make DU a universal and national institution.

Syed Refaat Ahmed said after assuming office he announced a roadmap for judicial reform to restore the lost trust of the people in the judiciary.  

"We are constantly working to implement this roadmap with an aim to establish justice in the country and reorganizing the judiciary," he said adding that the litigants have already started reaping its benefit.

An ordinance has already been framed for the appointment of judges in the High Court, he said, adding that as per the provisions of this ordinance, judges have been appointed to the Appellate Division through the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council in a completely transparent process.

"Our activities are going on with the message of establishing justice and simplifying the judicial process," he said.

The Chief Justice also said that the history carries the identity of a nation as nation’s spirit, success, and sacrifice all are recorded in the pages of the history. 

“Therefore, history guides us to choose our course of journey and inspire us as well for building our future," he said.

The Chief Justice said history of a nation is not always scripted in the pages of books. It’s found in the museums, documents, archaeological sites, architecture, outside textbooks and monuments.

"Therefore, every conscious citizen must play role in preserving the history from their respective positions," he opined.