# Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh

The Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh is the appellate court in Bangladesh. The Appellate Division is the final court of appeal for all civil and criminal cases, with appellate review authority over judgements of the High Court Division.
The Court is composed of 6 judges, led by its Chief Justice, Syed Refaat Ahmed.

## History

The Appellate Division is Bangladesh's highest court, and thus its court of final appeal. Its earliest predecessor was the Supreme Court of Pakistan which, following the partition of India introduced in 1947, had the distinctionary powers of being the highest Courts for all cases.

## Jurisdiction
### Appellate Jurisdiction

As the final court of appeal of the country, it takes up appeals primarily against verdicts of the High Court Division and other courts and tribunals.
* The Appellate Division shall have jurisdiction to hear and dispose of appeals against judgments, decrees, orders or sentences of the High Court Division.
* The judgment, decree, order or sentence of the High Court Division may be appealed by right to the Appellate Division, [...]
* In a case against a judgment, decree, order or sentence of the High Court Division to which clause (2) of this section does not apply, the appeal shall proceed only if the Appellate Division allows the appeal.
* Parliament may by law declare that the provisions of this section shall apply to any other court or tribunal as they apply to the High Court Division.

### Issue and execution of appellate processes

According to the Constitution:
* The Appellate Division may issue such instructions, orders, decrees or writs as may be necessary for complete justice in any case or matter pending before the Appellate Division, including an order for the attendance of any person or the discovery or submission of any documents.

### Power of Review

According to the Constitution:
* Subject to the provisions of any Act of Parliament and to any rules made by the Appellate Division, the Appellate Division shall have power to review any judgment pronounced or order passed by the Appellate Division.

### Advisory Jurisdiction

According to the Constitution:
* If at any time it appears to the President that any question of law has arisen or is likely to arise, which is of such a nature and of such public importance as to require the opinion of the Supreme Court, he shall refer the question to the Appellate Division for consideration. and the said department may, after appropriate hearing in its discretion, communicate its opinion on the question to the President.

### Rule making power

According to the Constitution:
* Subject to any law made by the Parliament, the Supreme Court may, with the approval of the President, make rules to regulate the customs and procedures of every department and any subordinate court.
* The Supreme Court may delegate the duties under Clause (1) of this Article and Articles 113 and 116 of this Constitution to any division of the said Court or to one or more Judges.
* Subject to the rules made under this section, the Chief Justice shall determine the Bench of which Division shall be constituted and which Judge shall sit for what purpose.
* The Chief Justice may depute the most senior Judge in any Division of the Supreme Court to exercise any power conferred on that Division by clause (3) of this section or by rules made under this section.

## Justices of the Appellate Division

| Name | Date appointed in Appellate Division | Date appointed in High Court Division as additional judge | Mandatory retirement | Appointing President at High Court Division | Prime minister at time of appointment in High Court Division | Judicial position before appointment as a justice | Law school " |
| Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed | 10 August 2024 | 30 June 2009 | 10 January 2026 | Mohammed Shahabuddin | Muhammad Yunus | Advocate at Supreme Court | Dhaka University |
| Justice Md. Ashfaqul Islam | 9 December 2022 | 27 August 2003 | 14 July 2026 | Iajuddin Ahmed | Begum Khaleda Zia (BNP) | | Dhaka University |
| Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury | 9 January 2022? | 30 June 2009? | 10 August 2027? | Zillur Rahman? | Sheikh Hasina (Awami League)? | Additional Attorney General of Bangladesh | Dhaka University? |
| Justice Md. Rezaul Haque | 9 December 2022? | 18 April 2010? | 1 January 2026? | Zillur Rahman? | Sheikh Hasina (Awami League)? | | Rajshahi University? |
| Justice S. M. Emdadul Hoque | 9 December 2022? | 18 April 2010? | 30 December 2026? | Zillur Rahman? | Sheikh Hasina (Awami League)? | | Dhaka University? |