Dhaka: Acting Chief Justice Md Abdul Wahhab Miah on Saturday said the Constitution has entrusted the Supreme Court with the responsibility for ensuring the rule of law in Bangladesh.

"Ensuring the rule of law is an inevitable condition in any democratic governing system... as per the constitution, the Supreme Court is entrusted with the task of ensuring the rule of law," he said.

The acting CJ came up with the remarks while handing over certificates among new lawyers at the Officers' Club in the city.

He also emphasised ensuring a healthy environment so that the judiciary can gain immense respect from people.

Wahhab said a strong and cooperative bar (lawyers) is undoubtedly the most effective friend of the bench (judges). "It's bar that help train up a judge for ensuring justice."

He also said the lawyers have huge and important responsibility to uphold the rule of law and human rights. "The lawyers are an indispensable part of the judiciary who can reach the law and justice to people. Their main task is to help ensure justice for people."

The acting CJ observed that the judiciary is still considered by people as a dignified institution as people go to court as their resort to get justice.

He said different courts of the country have a backlog of around 30 lakh cases as the number of judges is very inadequate compared to the ratio of the pending cases.

Speaking at the programme, Law Minister Anisul Huq said the lawyers have enormous role in fulfilling people's hopes and aspirations and their constitutional rights.

He said lawyers also can play a vital role as the driving force in ensuring justice.

Mentioning that it is very difficult to gain professional competence without training, the minister urged the Bar Council to take steps for effective and quality training for lawyers.

Appellate Division Judge Syed Mahmud Hossain, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and former law minister Abdul Matin Khasru, among others, spoke at the programme held with Bangladesh Bar Council vice-chairman Abdul Baset Majumder in the chair.