Dhaka: President of the Dhaka Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DCCI), Taskeen Ahmed, met with the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, at his Supreme Court office on December 24. During their meeting, Ahmed emphasized the limitations of existing frameworks like the ‘Artha Rin Adalat’ and the ‘Arbitration Act-2001’, citing their narrow jurisdiction and weak implementation as constraints to effective business dispute resolution in the country.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the recent approval of the Commercial Court Ordinance 2025 was highlighted as a crucial development by Ahmed. He described this ordinance as a timely step towards improving the commercial dispute resolution landscape, which is vital for fostering a pro-business climate amidst the evolving global business environment.
Ahmed praised the Chief Justice for recognizing the need for the Commercial Court Ordinance, especially given the challenging political and economic circumstances in Bangladesh. He acknowledged the Chief Justice’s initiatives aimed at ensuring judicial independence, including the establishment of the Supreme Court Secretariat, digitization of court operations, and the formation of the Supreme Judicial Appointment Council. These steps, he noted, are expected to boost confidence among the private sector and judicial stakeholders.
In response, Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed encouraged the private sector to work towards transforming the Commercial Court Ordinance into a comprehensive Act, emphasizing its potential to enhance trade and investment growth. He also underscored the importance of collaboration between the Bangladesh Supreme Court and DCCI in creating a regulatory framework conducive to private sector development.
Dr. Ahmed recognized the Dhaka Chamber as a significant representative of the private sector, expressing hope that it would continue to drive investment and trade development in Bangladesh. The meeting was also attended by DCCI’s Senior Vice President Razeev H Chowdhury, Vice President Md. Salem Sulaiman, and Acting Secretary General Dr. AKM Asaduzzaman Patwary.