Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday emphasised the need for formulation of a law for the appointment of Supreme Court judges to remove "baseless confusions" among people.

"Formulating a law for the appointment of Supreme Court judges in line with the constitution is essential... , " he said.

The chief justice made the remark while addressing his farewell at the Chief Justice's court in the SC's Appellate Division.

Justice Mahmud Hossain, who will retire on December 30, sat in the courtroom for hearing and disposing of cases on his last working day yesterday, as the court will go on a two-week annual vacation today.

"I'm happy to learn that the government has started working to formulate a law for the appointment of judges for the Supreme Court.

"If the law is made, the appointment of judges will be transparent and speedy and the baseless confusions among people about the transparency in the appointment of judges will be removed and the appointments will be made fast," the chief justice said.

He said the number of judges is inadequate considering the number of pending cases.

The number of judges need to be doubled in phases at all tiers of courts across the country to reduce the backlog of cases, said Justice Mahmud Hossain.

The chief justice said the judges will have to work harder to reduce the case backlog and keep the people's faith in them.

If the judicial functions are simultaneously run in-person and virtually, cases will be disposed of more quickly, he said.

He said the people's faith is the source of the powers of an independent judiciary.

The judges will have to have high ethical values and impeccable character and remain conscious about continuously improving and changing laws, technological developments and social values, added Justice Mahmud Hossain.

Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Supreme Court Bar Association Vice-President Muhammad Shafique Ullah accorded the farewell to the chief justice.

Pro-BNP lawyers, led by SCBA Secretary Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, boycotted the farewell ceremony claiming that the SCBA secretary was not invited to the programme.