The giant lock-shaped cabinet inside the Bangladesh Supreme Court. Photo: BSS

By SM Ashikuzzaman

DHAKA, July 01, 2026 (BSS) – Amid the rapid evolution of modern security systems—from smart locks and biometric authentication to digital access controls—the country's highest court continues to rely on a strikingly unique yet effective security arrangement. 

Inside the Bangladesh Supreme Court (SC) stands a giant lock-shaped cabinet that carefully safeguards hundreds of keys to the court's most important offices, courtrooms and chambers, making it one of the institution's most distinctive features.

Upon entering the ground floor of the main building of the Bangladesh Supreme Court through the entrance adjacent to Sonali Bank, the giant lock can be seen on the right-hand side. 

Standing about 10 feet tall and 5 feet wide, the structure may at first glance appear to be a metal artwork or part of the building's architectural design. However, a closer look reveals that it is an important part of the Supreme Court's security system.

Inside this lock-shaped cabinet, hundreds of keys of various important offices of the Supreme Court are stored in an orderly manner. 

These include the keys to the office of the Chief Justice, the courtrooms and chambers of the Appellate Division judges, the offices of the High Court Division judges, the offices of court officials and staffs, and various other important rooms of the court.

The giant lock becomes busy every morning. Following established procedures, the relevant employees collect the keys they need from the cabinet. 

After the day's judicial and administrative activities conclude, the keys are returned in accordance with the prescribed rules. From morning until night, several Supreme Court employees are responsible for the custody and handover of these keys.

"The giant lock is essentially a cabinet for storing keys. It holds several hundred keys used to unlock the offices of the Chief Justice, the judges of the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, as well as the offices of court officials and staff,” said Supreme Court Public Relations Officer Md Shafiqul Islam

He added, “Employees of the respective offices collect the keys from the cabinet in the morning and return them in the afternoon or at night.”