A meeting was held between Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed and Chief Justice of the National High Court of Brazil Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin in Brasilia, Brazil on Monday. Photo: Collected

DHAKA, Sept 16, 2025 (BSS) – Bangladesh and Brazil have agreed to enhance mutual cooperation between the judiciaries of the countries to ensure that justice is not confined within geographical boundaries but recognized as a universal right. 

The agreement came in a meeting between Chief Justice of Bangladesh Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed and Chief Justice of the National High Court of Brazil Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin in Brasilia, the capital of Brazil on Monday, said a press release here today .   
 
Justice Ahmed is now on an official visit to Brazil at the invitation of the Chief Justice of the National High Court of Brazil Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin.  

Chief Justice of Bangladesh will be visiting in Brazil until 19 September 2025 and will participate in various programmes aimed at enhancing mutual collaboration between the judicial institutions of both the countries.

During the meeting, both the chief justices focused on enhancing mutual cooperation between the judiciaries of the two countries, exchanging experiences and best practices, sharing technological innovations in judicial processes, exploring the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in justice delivery, and strengthening the role of the judiciary in upholding the rule of law.

They acknowledged that in today’s interconnected world, where trade, communication, and the movement of people transcend national borders, international judicial collaboration has become more relevant than ever in addressing complex legal challenges. 

In this context, they emphasized that effective judicial cooperation between Brazil and Bangladesh would ensure that justice is not confined within geographical boundaries but recognized as a universal right.

The sharing of Brazil’s technological expertise, innovations, and digital infrastructure with Bangladesh’s judiciary was highlighted as a means to significantly advance the digitalization of the court management system in Bangladesh during the meeting. 

Justice Benjamin assured that Brazil would extend its full cooperation in this regard.

Particular emphasis was placed on introducing technology-driven initiatives such as e-filing, digital case management, video conferencing, and online dispute resolution in Bangladesh’s judiciary. 
Chief Justice of Bangladesh expressed his belief that Brazil’s proven experience in these areas would play a pivotal role in supporting the digital transformation of the judiciary in Bangladesh.

The discussion further highlighted the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into judicial processes. 

Both Chief Justices agreed that AI has the potential to make justice systems more efficient, transparent, and fair. 

They explored areas of collaboration, such as implementing AI-powered case management systems to expedite case disposal and developing AI tools to assist judges and lawyers in quickly and accurately finding relevant precedents, legal provisions, and case analyses. 

They also stressed the importance of using AI responsibly to ensure accountability, accessibility, and the strengthening of the rule of law.

Another key area of discussion was the possibility of introducing a citizen-centred grievance redressed mechanism in Bangladesh’s judiciary, modelled after Brazil’s system of Judicial Ombudsmen. 

In Brazil, a constitutional amendment in 2004 introduced designated officials within courts and public prosecutor offices to receive and resolve citizens’ complaints related to judicial services, thereby acting as a bridge between the judiciary and the public. 

Both parties agreed to further explore the feasibility of introducing a similar mechanism in Bangladesh to improve public trust and access to justice.

The Chief Justice of Bangladesh attended a programme titled “Exchanges on Matters of Mutual Judicial Interest, Particularly Concerning Institutional Reform, Environmental Justice, Judicial Independence, and Technological Innovation in the Administration of Justice.”

As part of this visit, Chief Justice of Bangladesh participated in a series of day-long events on September 15.  

Justice Ahmed visited the National High Court of Brazil located in Brasília, the capital of Brazil. 

It is worth mentioning that earlier, on March 3, 2025, Justice Antonio Herman Benjamin attended a seminar in Dhaka titled “Upholding Environmental Justice: The Role of Judges for a Sustainable Future” as a special guest at the invitation of the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, organized by the Supreme Court of Bangladesh at the Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. 

This ongoing exchange of visits reflects a growing relationship between the judiciaries of the two nations and marks a significant step towards greater international cooperation.