Bangladesh Moves Toward Commercial Court Reform at National Seminar in Sylhet

A landmark seminar aimed at shaping the future of commercial litigation in Bangladesh was held Sunday morning at The Grand Sylhet Hotel and Resort, bringing together top judicial minds and development partners to chart a new course for economic justice.

The event, divided into two sessions, featured a plenary gathering at 12:30pm where the Chief Justice of Bangladesh, Justice Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, unveiled a bold proposal to establish dedicated commercial courts. His announcement marked a pivotal moment in the country’s legal evolution, addressing long-standing inefficiencies in handling high-value business disputes.

In his keynote address, the Chief Justice underscored the absence of a specialised judicial framework for commercial cases, which currently share space with general civil suits. He described this as a structural flaw that burdens the judiciary and undermines investor confidence. With over 25,000 unresolved cases in the Money Loan Courts alone, the urgency for reform was palpable.

Justice Ahmed laid out a comprehensive blueprint for the proposed courts, anchored on seven core pillars: streamlined jurisdiction, financial thresholds with tiered court structures, strict case management protocols, integrated mediation, advanced digital tools, inclusive access to justice, and robust accountability mechanisms. He stressed that the initiative is not merely administrative—it is a transformative step toward fostering a transparent and investor-friendly legal environment.

The seminar also featured insights from senior judges, international diplomats, and legal experts, all echoing the need for reform. The Chief Justice assured that the new courts would be staffed by specially trained judges and supported by technology-driven infrastructure, drawing from both civil and common law traditions.

The gathering included judicial officers from across the Sylhet division, alongside representatives from key legal and investment institutions. Their participation was coordinated through an official directive issued earlier this month, reflecting the national importance of the initiative.

As the session concluded, the message was clear: Bangladesh is ready to build a judicial system that meets the demands of modern commerce, with transparency, efficiency, and fairness at its core.