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from Jhenaidah-1. He is now the law minister after his party’s victory.

Ruhul is also a member of the BNP’s National Executive Committee.

After his appointment, he told reporters at his Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) chamber that he would discharge his new duties “in accordance with the law, ethics and principles”.

He stressed the need for a comprehensive government policy to reduce case backlogs, citing shortages of judges and systemic inefficiencies. “Often a criminal case is filed against 10 to 50 persons though the offence was committed by only one. In civil matters, disputes that could be settled outside court are brought into litigation, adding to the backlog,” he said.

He added that training for lawyers and greater awareness among litigants were essential to easing the burden on the judiciary.

Ruhul currently serves on the Bangladesh Bar Council and previously held the post of secretary of the SCBA. A former student of Dhaka University’s Law Department, he became a member of the SCBA in 1996.