Photo: BSS

SYLHET, Aug 17, 2025 (BSS) – Chief Justice Dr Syed Rafaat Ahmed said that the judiciary has witnessed significant progress in the last one year.

“The recently launched regulations for appointments and restructuring of the courts have considerably empowered the judiciary for the first time, allowing it to move forward with its own pace,” he said.

The chief justice said this while talking to journalists this afternoon after attending a seminar on the ‘Establishment of Commercial Courts: Draft for Commercial Court’ at a city hotel here.

Rafaat Ahmed said the process of establishing specialized commercial courts has advanced considerably.
 
“We are working with various development partners on this matter. In July, BIDA, UNDP, and the EU held a dialogue with the Supreme Court where we received valuable inputs, particularly from lawyers and the business community,” he said.

The Chief Justice said, “We are working on those agenda and will submit the final draft to the government for its implementation.” 

Earlier, the Chief Justice as the chief guest attended the second session of the seminar—jointly organized by the Bangladesh Supreme Court and UNDP.

Noting that currently there is no dedicated judicial forum for resolving commercial disputes in Bangladesh, Rafaat Ahmed said the commercial cases which are linked with huge financial issues are heard in the courts along with civil lawsuits, hinders a speedy and effective trial of the cases. 

“This is not a criticism to our judges—their dedication is unquestionable. But it is a structural inconsistency,” he said, 

“As a result, case backlogs are piling up, while business relations and environment for investment are being hampered,” he added.

Citing statistics, the chief justice said that as of March 2025, more than 25,000 cases remained pending in financial loan courts alone.

Underscoring the need for reform, he said the demand for separate commercial courts is not the demand of any particular group but all stakeholders—from large investors to small entrepreneurs, both domestic and foreign—who for years have raised their voice at different forums to resolve the matter.
 
They want commercial disputes to be resolved in specialized courts within set timeframe and through effective judgments, Rafaat Ahmed continued.

Citing global examples, the Chief Justice said, countries like Rwanda, India and Pakistan have established commercial courts that created efficient, transparent and investment-friendly environments in those countries.

“The experiences of these countries carry important lessons for Bangladesh,” the chief justice observed.

Sylhet Senior District and Sessions Judge Sheikh Ashfakur Rahman delivered the welcome address in the second session of the seminar while EU Ambassador to Bangladesh Michael Miller, UNDP Resident Representative Stefan Liller spoke at the event. 

Justice Zafar Ahmed of the High Court Division presided over the event.