The Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) celebrated its 15th anniversary by successfully hosting the 1st Bangladesh ADR Summit at the Crystal Ballroom of Hotel InterContinental, Dhaka. The summit brought together distinguished members of the judiciary, senior lawyers, corporate leaders, academics, ADR practitioners and representatives of the business community in a significant gathering dedicated to strengthening alternative dispute resolution (ADR) in Bangladesh. The event highlighted the increasing importance of arbitration and mediation in promoting access to justice, improving the efficiency of commercial dispute resolution and enhancing confidence among domestic and international businesses.
The programme commenced with registration and networking, followed by the recitation of the Holy Qurโan.
Opening the ceremony, BIAC Chairman Mahbubur Rahman reflected on the institution’s transformation over the past 15 years into Bangladesh’s only dedicated institutional ADR centre administering arbitration and mediation under internationally recognised rules. “Justice therefore is not merely a legal principle. It is an economic necessity,” he told the meet. Mr. Rahman noted that BIAC has steadily expanded its credibility by providing arbitration and mediation services aligned with international standards while investing in capacity building for judges, lawyers, bankers and engineers.
The summit was attended by the Honโble 25th Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Dr. Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, as the Chief Guest. Madam Justice Fatema Anwar, Honโble Justice of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, delivered the keynote address, while leading legal professionals, members of the BIAC Board and representatives of the banking and corporate sectors participated in the dayโs discussions.
Delivering the keynote address, immediate-past Chief Justice Dr Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed described judicial reform as central to Bangladesh’s economic future. “I have always maintained that the quality of a nation’s judiciary is a primary economic indicator,” he said, noting that investors seek certainty that contracts will be honoured and disputes resolved within months rather than decades. He acknowledges that problems in enforcing commercial contracts has long discouraged investment and slowed business activity. “For too long, enforcing a commercial contract in Bangladesh has been a deterrent to foreign investment and a brake on domestic entrepreneurship,” he observed.
Justice Fatema Anwar of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court argued that Bangladesh has already laid the foundations for institutional arbitration but now needs to strengthen the broader ecosystem. “The question is not anymore whether we have built something. We already have. The question is whether we have enough.”
A special session titled โReflections on BIAC: 2011โ2026โ provided an opportunity to look back on the institutionโs development over the past fifteen years. The session was chaired by BIAC Board Member, Anis A. Khan and featured former Justice of the High Court Division Md. Awlad Ali, Aftabul Islam, Dr. Khaled Hamid Chowdhury and Rizwan Rahman. The speakers reflected on BIACโs evolution, discussed its role in promoting ADR within Bangladesh and shared their perspectives on the institutionโs contribution to strengthening commercial dispute resolution and improving confidence in arbitration as an effective mechanism for resolving disputes.
To commemorate the milestone anniversary, BIAC Board Members and the BIAC Management participated in a ceremonial cake-cutting, marking fifteen years of the institutionโs commitment to promoting arbitration and mediation in Bangladesh. The celebration recognized BIACโs continued efforts to provide institutional support for the peaceful, efficient and cost-effective settlement of commercial disputes and to encourage the wider use of ADR mechanisms across different sectors.
The summitโs keynote address was delivered by Madam Justice Fatema Anwar on the theme โAdvancing Justice and Business Confidence through ADR.โ The keynote underscored the growing importance of ADR as a complementary mechanism to litigation and highlighted its contribution to improving access to justice, ensuring timely dispute resolution and creating a more predictable legal environment for commerce and investment.
The keynote session was followed by an engaging panel discussion on the same theme. Moderated by Barrister Sameer Sattar, the discussion brought together Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon, Mohammad Mamdudur Rashid, Chief Executive Officer of United Commercial Bank PLC, Barrister Mohammed Forrukh Rahman, Prof. Dr. Milita Mehjabeen, Chairman of National Bank PLC, and Barrister Margub Kabir. Drawing on their diverse professional experiences, the panel discussed the evolving role of ADR in supporting judicial efficiency, facilitating commercial dispute resolution, promoting investor confidence and strengthening Bangladeshโs business environment. The panel also highlighted the importance of collaboration among the judiciary, legal profession, financial institutions and the private sector in fostering a culture of effective dispute resolution.
The discussion concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session during which participants exchanged views with the panelists on contemporary challenges and opportunities relating to arbitration, mediation and other ADR processes. The active participation of the audience reflected the growing interest in institutional ADR and its expanding role in resolving commercial disputes efficiently and effectively.
Addressing the gathering as the Chief Guest, Dr. Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed reaffirmed the importance of ADR in strengthening the justice system and supporting a business-friendly legal environment. Following his address, BIAC presented a memento to the Chief Guest in recognition of his presence at the event. The programme concluded with a photo session and a vote of thanks delivered by BIAC Chief Executive Officer, K A M Majedur Rahman before participants attended a luncheon.
The 1st Bangladesh ADR Summit marked a significant milestone in BIACโs institutional journey and provided a valuable platform for dialogue among judges, legal practitioners, academics, business leaders and ADR professionals. Coinciding with BIACโs fifteenth anniversary, the event reaffirmed the institutionโs commitment to promoting arbitration, mediation and other forms of alternative dispute resolution while encouraging continued cooperation among stakeholders to strengthen Bangladeshโs ADR landscape and support sustainable economic and commercial development.