Miftah Uddin Chowdhury, Zobaer Rahman Chowdhury, AKM Asaduzzaman, Fazle Kabir and Ashfaqul Islam are the new additional judges, and Khandker Musa Khaled, whose service was not confirmed by the government on July 2, has been appointed as full judge. Fazle Kabir is the only one who has been appointed from judicial cadre.

Tafazzul Islam superseded Justice Syed Amirul Islam to become an Appellate Division judge. The Appellate Division post became vacant on August 23 with the retirement of Justice Abu Sayeed Ahmmed.

Earlier, Amirul Islam was superseded by Justice MM Ruhul Amin in the Appellate Division on July 12. That incident touched off widespread resentment among lawyers, who demanded an end to the superseding affair. They also urged the government to ensure that Amirul gets an Appellate Division appointment in the next opportunity. But the government turned a deaf ear to the plea.

The issue became a talk of the town on June 23 when the government had appointed the chief justice by superseding two senior judges in the Appellate Division.

Coming to power in October 2001, the BNP-led four-party alliance did not confirm services of 15 additional judges appointed during the Awami League rule on a two-year term.

The government has so far given appointments to 27 new judges at the High Court level.