Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain yesterday announced that any decision to close the courts amid the coronavirus pandemic would be taken after a discussion with all judges of the Supreme Court (SC). “We will take a decision after meeting with all judges together on whether the courts should be closed considering the coronavirus outbreak. The SC is currently on a 15-day vacation. The meeting will be held and a decision taken before the SC reopens on March 28,” the Chief Justice said.

 He was speaking after an event on the SC premises marking the birth centenary of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.  “We are aware of the situation. All judges of the SC will sit together to take a decision on what role the apex court should play in this situation,” he said.  The SC would also decide on the activities of the lower courts as the lower judiciary is under the jurisdiction of the SC, he added.