Dhaka: The country's first-ever Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Summit will be held in the capital on August 1, 2026. Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC), an alternative dispute resolution body, is organising the summit to mark its 15th anniversary.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Senior Counsel Mohammad Anisul Haque Emran of BIAC emphasized the significance of the event, describing it as the first summit of its kind in the country. The summit aims to present recommendations to policymakers for enacting a Mediation Act and making amendments to the existing Arbitration Act. This initiative is in line with the government's commitment to reducing the longstanding backlog of cases in the judiciary and ensuring speedy justice through effective alternative dispute resolution mechanisms.
Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman highlighted the impact of ADR on the judicial system, noting a more than 62 per cent decline in the filing of cases under certain laws this year compared to 2025. He pointed out that approximately 45 lakh cases are currently pending in courts across the country, posing a significant burden on the judicial system. The government's ongoing efforts aim to address this backlog.
In response to queries about the summit's contributions to the judicial system, BIAC's Senior Counsel, Mohammad Anisul Haque Emran, expressed hope for progress in enacting a Mediation Act and amending the Arbitration Act, 2001. He noted the necessity of updating the Arbitration Act and mentioned that several countries have enacted a Mediation Act following the Singapore Convention on Mediation, whereas Bangladesh has yet to do so. Emran expressed optimism that summit participants would advocate for legislative action to be taken in Parliament.