The Supreme Court of Bangladesh has announced a revised schedule for the annual summer recess of subordinate courts, marking a shift from a continuous month-long holiday to a split arrangement. Effective from 2026, the judicial recess will now be observed in two phases: from 1 to 15 June and from 17 to 31 December. This decision was formalised during a Full Court meeting, according to an official statement released by the Supreme Court Administration on Tuesday.
The statement, signed by Supreme Court Press Officer Md. Shafiqul Islam, noted that the Full Court convened on Monday at 4:00 pm in the Judges’ Lounge of the Supreme Court. The meeting was presided over by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury and attended by judges from both the Supreme Court and the High Court Division. The principal agenda included deliberations on the subordinate courts’ holiday schedule and the operational progress of the Supreme Court Secretariat.
During the session, the Chief Justice informed all attending judges about the current and planned activities of the Supreme Court Secretariat. He reported that the Secretariat’s operations are ongoing under the deployment of thirteen judicial officers alongside the requisite number of supporting staff. Furthermore, infrastructural development efforts are progressing rapidly to enhance the Secretariat’s capacity and efficiency.
The meeting also highlighted plans for the relocation of Secretariat functions to the second, third, and fourth floors of the Supreme Court Record Building upon the completion of ongoing construction work. This strategic move is expected to streamline administrative operations and provide improved facilities for judicial staff.
For clarity, the key details of the Full Court meeting and the revised holiday schedule are summarised below:
| Item | Details |
|---|---|
| Summer recess schedule | Two phases: 1–15 June and 17–31 December |
| Effective year | 2026 |
| Full Court meeting date | Monday, 9 February 2026 |
| Venue | Judges’ Lounge, Supreme Court |
| Presiding officer | Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury |
| Participants | Judges of the Supreme Court and High Court Division |
| Secretariat staffing | 13 judicial officers plus required support staff |
| Infrastructure updates | Secretariat operations to move to 2nd, 3rd, and 4th floors post-construction |
The Supreme Court Administration emphasised that the revised schedule aims to maintain judicial efficiency while providing necessary rest periods for court personnel. Officials expressed optimism that splitting the recess into two phases will reduce administrative disruption and improve the overall functioning of subordinate courts.
By adopting these reforms, the Supreme Court intends not only to modernise its administrative processes but also to ensure that both judicial officers and staff have structured breaks without compromising the delivery of justice.