In its landmark Masdar judgment, the Appellate Division addressed head-on certain concerns regarding executive control over the judiciary. It reaffirmed the principle of independence of the judiciary, and elaborated on the constitutional position and practice regarding separation of the judiciary from the executive. This decision originated in a constitutional challenge brought before the High Court by 218 persons in judicial service, including Masdar Hossain. The High Court Division held in favour of Hossain and the other judges, and after the Government appealed this decision and lost, the Appellate Division affirmed the High Court’s judgment. In this judgment, the Appellate Division affirmed that a separate Judicial Service should be established, distinct from the Executive and Administrative Cadres of the Bangladesh Civil Service. This case remained under active consideration by the Supreme Court and after several hearings over many years, finally the separation of judiciary occurred in November 2007.