Seminar on arbitration and mediation

Speakers at a seminar underscored the need for implementation of ADR mechanisms to reduce backlog of cases. Pointing out two major evils like inordinate delay and climbing cost of adversarial litigation procedure they branded arbitration and mediation as a two point solution of easy access to justice for dispute affected people and institutions. Judiciary in the country is overburdened with more than 2.5 million cases demanding effective utilisation of ADR methods to lessen stress on all tiers of courts. They also stressed the loopholes of the existing provisions of ADR and also its weaker practices with recommendations for healing referring some developed countries where above 90 percent civil and commercial disputes are settled through ADR oriented mechanisms.     
Dr. Taufiq Ali, Chief Executive of Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) presented keynote in the seminar titled ADR in Bangladesh Laws: Arbitration and Mediation organised by the Centre for Legal Research (CLR) of Southeast University (SEU) in collaboration with BIAC held on the university seminar hall on June 26, 2014. Prof. Dr. Anwar Hossain, Vice Chancellor of SEU was the Chief Guest while A H M Nurul Islam, Director of BIAC was the guest of honour in the seminar. Barrister Nabil Ahsan and Advocate Mokarramus Shaklan were the discussants in the program. Among others Deans of different Schools, Registrar, Chief Coordinator of SEU Trust, Chairmen of various Departments along with faculties and around 220 students of the Department of Law & Justice (DLJ) were present. At the end of discussion a question and answer session was held amid participation of students followed by a mutual discussion between the high ups of SEU including VC, Pro- VC, Registrar and BIAC Executives for future collaboration.     
Syed Robayet Ferdous, Director, of CLR delivered the address of welcome while Md. Asaduzzaman, Chairman of DLJ delivered the vote of thanks. Bahreen Khan, former director of CLR conducted the program.           

The Writer is Senior Lecturer in Law at Southeast University, Dhaka.