Dhaka: Emphasising the need for speedy, efficient, and transparent adjudication, former Chief Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed today stated that the quality of a nation's judiciary serves as its primary economic indicator. "By prioritising speedy, efficient, and transparent adjudication, we are constructing a robust architecture for commercial justice. In the globalised economy of the 21st century, investors-both foreign and domestic-do not judge a country solely by tax incentives or infrastructure. They seek certainty. They seek assurance that contracts will be honoured, rights will be protected, and disputes will be resolved not over decades but within months," he remarked.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed delivered these remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural Bangladesh ADR Summit hosted by the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) at Hotel InterContinental in Dhaka. The event was organised to mark the 15th anniversary of BIAC.
BIAC Board Chairman Mahbubur Rahman delivered the welcome address, while High Court Division Justice Fatema Anwar presented the keynote address titled "Advancing Justice and Business Confidence through ADR." Dr Refaat emphasised the need to move towards a new judicial philosophy for commercial disputes, recognising time as a critical element of justice and treating procedural discipline as a constitutional duty.
A session highlighting BIAC's journey from 2011 to 2026 was held at the outset of the programme. Chaired by BIAC Vice Chairman Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, the session featured speeches by former Justice Md Awlad Ali, Aftab Ul Islam, Dr Khaled Hamid Chowdhury, and Rizwan-ur-Rahman. A panel discussion titled "Advancing Justice and Business Confidence through ADR" was also held, moderated by Barrister Sameer Sattar and featuring Barrister Tanim Hussain Shawon, Dr Melita Mehjabeen, Mohammad Forrukh Rahman, Mohammad Mahmudur Rashid, and Barrister Magrub Kabir.
BIAC Chief Executive Officer KAM Majedur Rahman presented a vote of thanks at the conclusion of the summit.