The Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC), the country’s sole registered Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) institution, successfully organized a two-day training course titled “Arbitration and Mediation: Foundation Course on ADR” on 30–31 July 2025 at the BIAC Auditorium in Dhaka. The program aimed to build essential knowledge and skills in arbitration and mediation, the two most prominent ADR mechanisms, and attracted a diverse group of professionals from legal, academic, and corporate sectors.
On the first day, Mr. Shahariar Sadat, Deputy Executive Director at the Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University, and an internationally certified mediator, conducted sessions on the foundation of mediation. His training covered key principles such as confidentiality, neutrality, and interest-based negotiation. Through interactive exercises and group discussions, participants explored how mediation can resolve conflicts effectively in workplace, commercial, and civil settings.
The second day featured Dr. Khaled Hamid Chowdhury, Senior Advocate of the Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and a certified arbitrator and mediator. Dr. Chowdhury provided an in-depth overview of arbitration, focusing on the legal framework, procedures, and enforceability of arbitral awards. He emphasized arbitration’s role in resolving complex commercial disputes in a time-efficient and confidential manner, especially in cross-border contexts.
The program concluded with a certification ceremony, where participants received certificates of completion. The ceremony was attended by special guest Mr. Anis A. Khan, board member of BIAC. Mr. Anisuddin Ahmed Khan, former MD & CEO of Mutual Trust Bank Ltd., is a seasoned banker with over four decades of experience across leading financial institutions including Grindlays, Standard Chartered, and IDLC. A Fellow of the Institute of Bankers, Bangladesh, he has held leadership roles in banking, corporate governance, and financial inclusion. He currently serves as Vice President of MCCI, Independent Director of Trust Bank PLC. And Summit Alliance Port Ltd., and Adjunct Professor at IUB. Mr. Khan encouraged participants to embrace continuous learning, stating, “Regardless of age or experience, there is always something new to learn. Lifelong learning is essential to staying relevant and impactful in today’s fast-changing world.”
Also present was CEO of BIAC, K A M Majedur Rahman, who praised the trainers and participants for their active involvement. He highlighted the importance of practical training in building ADR capacity and reaffirmed BIAC’s commitment to expanding professional development initiatives. Mr. Rahman emphasized that nurturing skilled ADR professionals is key to meeting the country’s growing dispute resolution needs.
Both sessions highlighted the importance of ADR in reducing the burden on courts and promoting access to justice. With the success of this foundation course, BIAC reaffirmed its commitment to advancing professional development in ADR and contributing to a more efficient and accessible justice system in Bangladesh.