‘Might makes right’ increasingly becoming reality: Chief justice

The principle of “might makes right” is increasingly becoming a reality in today’s world, Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury has said, warning that human life and fundamental rights are being treated with growing disregard.

“Just by looking at the world, we can see examples of this. I do not want to name any particular country. I am refraining from doing so out of decency. But humanity and human rights should be our most important concerns,” he said.

The chief justice made the remarks while addressing the second international conference on Sovereignty, Humanity and Law in the Contemporary World at the Senate Building of Rajshahi University today (30 October).

He said human life had become the easiest commodity or resource to sacrifice in the present world, adding that he remained firm in this view and that there were countless examples of it.

Chowdhury said growing challenges to justice and human rights were raising new concerns, making it necessary to reconsider the relationship between state sovereignty, humanity and law in the current global context.

“Sovereignty is a fundamental principle of international relations. However, alongside sovereignty, we must also fulfil our collective responsibility to protect human dignity, safeguard fundamental rights and ensure justice,” he said.

The chief justice observed that the traditional concept of absolute sovereignty was facing growing challenges, as no problem was now confined to the borders of a single territory.

He said sovereignty did not simply mean a state’s freedom to act as it wished; it also entailed a responsibility to engage in international cooperation to address common challenges.

“Neither sovereignty nor state law can be above people’s fundamental rights and humanity,” he added.