President Iajuddin Ahmed administered the oath at Bangabhaban.

The Supreme Court Bar Association boycotted the swearing-in ceremony, protesting what it called an 'appointment superseding two senior judges'.

Prime Minister Khaleda Zia, former chief advisers of the caretaker government Justice Latifur Rahman and Justice Muhammad Habibur Rahman, ministers and Supreme Court judges were present.

However, the Bar felicitated the new chief justice at a function at the Supreme Court.

Addressing the function, Justice Hasan asked the judges and lawyers to devote themselves to study, saying there was no alternative to education in the changed world of globalisation.

"The conduct of judges in discharging justice should not be like what erodes people's confidence in the judiciary," he said.

Welcoming Justice Hasan, Bar President Rokanuddin Mahmud said there was no bar to becoming a judge doing politics. "But they have to forget politics and the past after becoming a judge."

He said Justice Hasan was not made chief justice as the most senior judge of the Appellate Division.

A political circle believes that he is 'their man' and its rival thinks he has been appointed with a special intent, he said.

"It is now incumbent on the chief justice to prove the speculations wrong," he said. Expecting total neutrality from him, Rokanuddin asked the lawyers to give him the benefit of doubt.

He said one of the predecessors of Justice Hasan was criticised for his loyalty to a party when he had been the chief justice and the chief adviser of the caretaker government.

"We don't expect it from you and your verdicts did not have political reflections," he told Justice Hasan.

Referring to the confirmation of the service of some additional judges next month, Rokanuddin said: "Your recommendation should not be ignored -- it will be your first test."

Attorney General Hasan Arrif hoped that the new chief justice would be able to contribute to strengthening the judiciary.

The function over, pro-government lawyers held a meeting at the Bar Association Hall in protest at what they branded 'unprecedented' and 'politically motivated' speech of the Bar president.

Chaired by Bar Vice-president AK Mujibur Rahman, the meeting asked the Bar president to withdraw his speech, saying general members did not share his view.