Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq has said that the government is working to incorporate the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) provisions in different existing laws of the country to make commercial dispute resolution easier and less time consuming.
In view of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic, the government under definitive instruction by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has enacted the "Use of Information Technology by the Court Act, 2020" to carry out trials through digital means, the minister said.
"Our judiciary has already started conducting court proceedings via video conferencing. However, we are yet to make progress regarding the virtual form of ADR. Suggested virtual ADR practices can either be based on phone conferences or internet-supported video conferences," the law minister said while speaking as chief guest at a webinar titled 'Celebrating the First Nine Years: Impact of BIAC on Institutional ADR in Bangladesh', organised virtually today by the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) to mark its 9th founding anniversary.
Anisul Huq also opined that in view of the backlog of over 3.6 million cases pending in all courts of Bangladesh, ADR is now imperative to take the nation forward towards the goal of economic development amid the pandemic.
The minister also assured to stand by BIAC in all its promotional activities.
Justice Md Rezaul Hasan, a judge of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court, addressed the webinar as special guest and explained provisions of ADR in the Arbitration Act 2001 where institutional role of BIAC has been indicated.
He gave a few suggestions for amendment of the existing arbitration law so that enforcement of foreign arbitral award is simplified and quality of arbitrators is ensured.
Md Moinul Kabir, secretary to the Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Division of the Ministry of Law, and Chief Executive Officer of BIAC Muhammad A (Rumee) Ali also addressed the webinar which was participated by judges, lawyers, business leaders, government high officials, bankers, academicians and representatives from diplomatic missions, international organisations and the media.