Dhaka, Nov 08 (V7N)- Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said intellectual corruption has caused greater damage to Bangladesh’s judiciary than financial corruption, stressing the need to ensure integrity and accountability in the judicial system.

He made the remarks on Sunday morning while inaugurating a workshop on judicial integrity for judges of subordinate courts in the capital.

The minister said the government and the Chief Justice were pursuing a zero-tolerance policy towards judges against whom specific allegations of misconduct had been raised.

He also said the government would not interfere in the work of a Supreme Court judge after the judge's permanent appointment.

Reaffirming the government's commitment to judicial independence, Asaduzzaman said a separate secretariat for the judiciary would be established through amendments to the Constitution.

On the issue of bringing former prime minister Sheikh Hasina back to Bangladesh from India, the law minister said the government would take all necessary legal steps under the bilateral extradition treaty. He described her as a convicted criminal from the government's perspective.

The minister also said Bangladesh expected justice in the Rohingya genocide case before the International Court of Justice (ICJ), which is scheduled to deliver its verdict on November 19.

Meanwhile, Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) Executive Director Iftekharuzzaman said establishing an independent judiciary free from political influence was essential to ensure that people could fully benefit from the justice system.

END/SMA/AJ