A meeting on the “Role of BIAC in promotion of ADR” was held on 4th August 2015 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. Anisul Huq MP, Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs was present in this interactive meeting with the business leaders and eminent jurists as the chief guest.
The meeting was presided by Chairman, BIAC Mr. Mahbubur Rahman. Welcoming the guest, Mr. Rahman observed that Bangladesh has a burdensome court litigation process that most businesses find frustrating. This is viewed as an impediment to our private sector development. A fundamental requirement for trade and investment to flourish, is quick and cost-effective methods to resolve commercial and investment disputes. Institution like Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) provides this option to businesses. 
According to latest data, around 3 million cases are now lying pending in different courts of Bangladesh. Huge amount of public and private capitals are stuck in these disputes. These pending cases create stagnation in the economy and lower investors’ confidence. He further stated that Government has demonstrated its commitment to ease case logjam in courts by amending Civil Procedure Code in 2012. But the amendment is not yet put into operation. Rules formulated to apply this amendment remain yet to be approved.
In response, Law Minister has narrated the steps taken by the government in implementing ADR in the country effectively. He felicitated BIAC in supplementing government’s initiative in implementing ADR as well as providing training in Arbitration and Mediation. He further stated that government is working on formulating Rules for implementing changes in the Civil Procedure Code introducing mandatory mediation provisions. We are looking for ways to provide a role to ADR institutions, such as BIAC in these rules- he affirmed.
Among others, President of FBCCI Abdul Matlub Ahmed, Secretary Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division Mohammad Shahidul Haque, Secretary Law & Justice Division Abu Saleh Sheikh Md. Zahirul Haque, Former Secretary & Former Adviser to the Care Taker Government Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury, Former Advisers to the Care Taker Government and Former Presidents of MCCI Rokia Afzal Rahman and Tapan Choudhury (who is also currently President of Bangladesh Textile Mills Association (BTMA), Former Presidents of FBCCI Mir Nasir Hossain, A K Azad, Justice Awlad Ali, eminent lawyer Barrister Rafiq Ul Huq, Ajmalul Hossain QC and Barrister Nihad Kabir, President, DCCI Hossain Khaled, Former President of DCCI Matiur Rahman, President of Bangladesh Insurance Association Sheikh Kabir Hossain, Managing Director of Mutual Trust Bank Anis A Khan, Managing Director of BRAC Bank Syed Mahbubur Rahman, Former President BKMEA Fazlul Haque and KAFCO CEO Dr. Toufiq Ali spoke at the meeting and extended their full support for implementation of mandatory ADR provisions incorporated in Civil Procedure Code. They also urged the government to help resolve commercial disputes through ADR and help business to flourish and avoid complicated and time consuming court procedure.
