Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Chief Justice of Palestine Dr Mahmoud Al-Habbash last night (Monday). Photo : BSS

DHAKA, Sept 9, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed hosted a dinner in honour of visiting Chief Justice of Palestine Dr Mahmoud Al-Habbash last night (Monday), during which bilateral discussions were held on judicial cooperation and reform.

The dinner and discussions took place at the official residence of the Chief Justice on Hair Road in the capital, Appellate Division Public Relations Officer Md Shafiqul Islam told BSS today. 

Appellate Division judges Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, Justice Md. Rezaul Haque and Justice Farah Mahbub, members of the Palestinian delegation including Hamza Dana and Suhaib Sarhan, Ambassador of Palestine to Bangladesh Md Yousuf Ramadan and Deputy Head of Mission Ziad Hamad, along with other senior officials of the Palestinian mission, among others, joined the dinner. 

Supreme Court Registrar General Muhammad Habibur Rahman Siddiqui, Foreign Ministry's West Asia Division Director Mostafa Jamil Khan and officials concerned were also present. 

During the event, Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed briefed the guests on the progress of the judicial reform roadmap undertaken to establish a people-centric justice system, aimed at restoring public confidence in the judiciary following the 2024 mass uprising.

Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed informed the visiting Palestinian Chief Justice that the people of Bangladesh have always been empathetic and supportive towards the establishment of fundamental human rights and just entitlements of the general population of the State of Palestine. 

He also highlighted the long-standing strong diplomatic relations between Bangladesh and Palestine.

On the other hand, the Palestinian Chief Justice praised the relentless efforts of the Bangladesh Chief Justice to build a people-focused and humanitarian justice system. 

He also reaffirmed the Palestinian government's commitment to facilitating the entry of humanitarian aid for the welfare of the Palestinian people and ensuring the withdrawal of occupying forces.

He further noted that the Palestinian government is actively working to secure an effective political solution aimed at establishing a comprehensive ceasefire in the Gaza Strip.

In this context, he informed the Bangladesh Chief Justice that the Palestinian authorities are preparing to organise an international peace conference in New York, which will play an important role in affirming Palestine's international legitimacy, implementing relevant United Nations resolutions concerning the region, and establishing peaceful coexistence of two independent states under the Arab Peace Initiative. 

He expressed hope for the continued support of the people of Bangladesh in achieving this goal.

Through the dinner and bilateral discussions, new avenues of cooperation and friendship have been opened in the judicial sectors of Bangladesh and Palestine. 
The cordial exchange between the chief justices of both countries is expected to further strengthen bilateral relations and contribute significantly to joint efforts in justice, human rights, and peace.

Today, Suhaib Sarhan, Director of the Information Systems Unit and member of the visiting Palestinian delegation, will conduct a workshop at the Supreme Court conference hall for registry officials. 

The workshop will present how the digitalisation process of the Palestinian judiciary has been implemented and how the fully digitised judicial system operates effectively there. 

Through this, mutual cooperation and experience-sharing between the judicial sectors of both countries have reached a new dimension, which is expected to continue in the future, added Shafiqul Islam.