Chief Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim yesterday proposed that the Supreme Court (SC) lawyers conduct a case for free every month for the poor and destitute litigants, who otherwise would have no access to justice.

The willing members of the SC Bar Association (SCBA) will have the opportunity to pick cases from the SC registrar, and the Office of the Chief Justice will publish an annual list of the lawyers rendering this noble service, he said.

He added it is a collective shame for the nation that it has failed to ensure access to justice for every citizen regardless of their race, sex, religion and financial standing even after the first decade of the twenty-first century.

"The goddess of justice has eluded us and shut her mighty doors on the face of the poor, wretched, destitute and the disabled," the chief justice said.

He was speaking at a function on the occasion of his felicitation accorded by the Attorney General's Office and the SCBA at the chief justice's courtroom of the SC after he took oath for the Office of the Chief Justice.

Justice Fazlul Karim said the democratic institutions should be nurtured and strengthened in order to establish rule of law and justice.

"Our democracy requires constant vigilance from our leaders across the political spectrum, media and the civil society," he said.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and SCBA President AFM Mesbahuddin in their speech placed glorious works done by Justice Fazlul Karim in his life.

Judges and lawyers of the SC were present at the function.

Earlier in the day, Justice Mohammad Fazlul Karim was sworn in as the 18th chief justice of the country.

President Zillur Rahman administered his oath at about 11:15am at Bangabhaban.

Deputy Leader of Parliament Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury, former chiefs of caretaker government Justice Habibur Rahman and Justice Latifur Rahman, outgoing Chief Justice Md Tafazzul Islam, cabinet members, advisers to the prime minister, deputy speaker, state ministers, former chief justices, judges of the Appellate and High Court divisions of the SC, chiefs of three defence services, secretaries, attorney general, senior lawyers and other civil and military officials were present.