Thirty girls had the opportunity to meet Honourable Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed during their visit to the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on Thursday, 21 August 2025. The girls, members of ‘Swapnosarothi’, an initiative under BRAC’s Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) programme, were given a guided tour of the Supreme Court premises. Aspiring to build careers in the legal profession, they were offered a unique opportunity to learn first-hand about the country’s judicial system.

Addressing the girls, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed observed that women are now progressing equally with men in education, qualifying through competitive examinations, and entering the workforce. He noted that although 10 per cent of positions are reserved for women in recruitment, in his seven years with the Judicial Service Commission he had never seen that quota need to be applied. Women, he emphasised, had consistently earned their positions through merit and capability, often outperforming their male counterparts.

The Chief Justice further stressed the urgent need to end child marriage, describing it as deeply regrettable that, despite existing laws and monitoring systems, harmful social practices continue. He underscored that eliminating child marriage requires raising awareness among both men and women, alongside advancing women’s education and empowerment.

Recommending that key aspects of law and fundamental constitutional rights be incorporated into school curricula, he reaffirmed that the Constitution upholds the principle of equality, leaving no room for discrimination on the basis of race, religion, or language.

Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court expressed her encouragement at seeing the determination of the girls aspiring to become lawyers and judges. She shared her vision of a judiciary where women would constitute 50 per cent or more in the future, describing it as a dream she entrusts to the next generation to make reality.

Asif Saleh, Executive Director of BRAC, explained that the participants are called ‘Swapnosarothi’ (Dream Chasers) because the initiative is dedicated to equipping them with the skills and confidence to transform their aspirations into reality.

He highlighted that among 60,000 Swapnosarothi members across the country, nearly one thousand girls aspire to become lawyers or judges. From this group, 30 participants were selected for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit the Supreme Court and meet the Chief Justice — a milestone he hoped would inspire them to pursue legal careers with greater determination.

On behalf of BRAC, Shashwatee Biplob, Associate Director of SELP and Gender Justice and Diversity (GJD) Programme, and A T M Morshed Alam, Lead of Legal Aid and Policy Advocacy and Secretary to the Governing Body, were present at the event. The girls presented a scrapbook of letters and artwork to the Chief Justice and Justice Farah Mahbub, who in return presented them with gifts. They were also given a tour of the courtrooms to observe proceedings in session.

The visit was first proposed by Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed during a national workshop titled “Addressing Procedural Bottlenecks in Family Courts for Timely Justice”, organised by BRAC on 14 July 2025, where he encouraged the girls to visit the Supreme Court. Organisers expressed hope that such initiatives would inspire greater interest among young people in legal education and the judicial system.

Before visiting the Supreme Court, the group also toured the Sir Fazle Hasan Abed Knowledge Hub at BRAC Centre in Mohakhali, where they learned about the life and legacy of BRAC’s founder. Later, in a reflection session, they shared their experiences and discussed their future aspirations.

Launched with the vision of fostering empowerment and skills, ‘Swapnosarothi’ currently engages nearly 60,000 girls aged between 13 and 17 across 2,400 villages in 31 districts of Bangladesh under BRAC’s SELP programme. Alongside raising awareness to prevent child marriage, the initiative equips girls with education, life skills, and confidence to pursue their dreams and prepare for future careers. This visit to the Supreme Court has added a powerful source of inspiration for those determined to enter the legal profession.