<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;"><b>Outgoing Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique has said the country became independent at the cost of blood and not at the mercy of anyone.</b></span><br></div><div><br></div><div>“Those who had opposed at the time of independence are also opposing now. So we are not bothered by this visa policy. I've never been to America personally. I will never go in the future,” he said.</div><div><br></div><div>He made the remarks while replying to a question from reporters after observing his last working day at the Supreme Court on Monday.</div><div><br></div><div>"I have worked tirelessly for the welfare of the judiciary during my tenure as chief justice. I never thought about myself or my family,” said the country's 23rd chief justice.</div><div><br></div><div>“I have encouraged and instructed judges across the country to resolve the backlog of cases. For the benefit of the litigants, we have set up naye kunjo in the court premises across the country,” he also said.</div><div><br></div><div>“We have set up mediation centres in the Supreme Court to reduce the backlog of cases through mediation,” he added.</div><div><br></div><div>“The newly appointed chief justice is a dynamic personality. I hope he will handle the judiciary efficiently,” said Hasan Foez Sidduque.</div><div><br></div><div>Newly appointed Chief Justice Justice Obaidul Hassan and all the judges of the Appellate Division were present at the time. According to UNB reports&nbsp;</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>