A new chapter in the US judiciary: Bangladeshi judge Soma Sayeed takes oath by placing her hand on the Holy Quran


Published: 07:54 23 December 2025
Soma Sayeed made history by becoming the first Bangladeshi citizen to take office as a judge in a US state. By placing her hand on the Holy Quran while taking the oath, she not only paid tribute to her faith, but also set a rare and significant precedent in the US judiciary.
Soma Sayeed took the oath as a judge of the New York State Supreme Court by placing her hand on the Holy Quran in a formal ceremony held at the Queens Civil Court House in New York City on Monday evening. The ceremony was attended by high-ranking judges, judges, government officials, diplomats and prominent figures from the community.
This achievement by a female judge of Bangladeshi origin is considered a very rare event in the history of the US legal system. After the news of this success spread, there was great joy and excitement among the millions of expatriate Bangladeshis living in all 50 states of the United States. This achievement was celebrated by discussions, exchanging greetings and distributing sweets at various places.
It is worth noting that Soma Sayeed was elected as a judge by direct popular vote in the elections held across the United States on November 4. State and local judges and magistrates in the United States are usually elected through party and general elections.
Previously, Soma Sayeed served as a Queens District Judge in 2021. During his tenure, he was praised in the legal arena for his skill, integrity and professionalism and became a well-known and respected name in the Bengali community.
This achievement of Soma Sayeed is not only a personal success, but also a shining example of pride, inspiration and potential for expatriate Bangladeshis.
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