The Bangladesh Supreme Court has sent a proposal to the Ministry of Law, Justice, and Parliamentary Affairs seeking the establishment of specialised commercial courts across the country.
According to a press release issued by the Supreme Court, the initiative aimed to ensure faster and more efficient resolution of commercial disputes, thereby strengthening the investment climate and enhancing transparency in business operations.
The proposal stated that the courts would have jurisdiction over disputes arising from business transactions, banking and financial activities, import-export operations, aviation and maritime transport, construction and infrastructure projects.
The jurisdiction would also include franchise agreements, distribution and licensing, technology development, trademarks, copyrights, patents, industrial designs, domain names, geographical indications, insurance, partnership agreements, financial institutions, service sectors, and shareholder or joint venture matters.
This would allow nearly all modern trade and investment-related disputes to be resolved through specialised courts, the press release added.
The proposal suggested appointing聽commercial court judges from among district judges and forming a dedicated commercial appellate bench in the High Court Division under the authority of the Chief Justice.
It also made pre-litigation mediation mandatory, which is expected to help settle many disputes outside the courtroom, significantly reducing the growing case backlog.
Cases or applications with a claim value of at least Tk聽50 lakh would fall under the jurisdiction of these courts, and the government would have the authority to revise this threshold from time to time as necessary.
To ensure swift justice, the proposal set strict timelines for case disposal, requiring final hearings to be completed within 90 days.
It also introduced provisions for summary trials to avoid unnecessary delays.
For appeals, commercial appellate courts would aim to deliver verdicts within six months, while the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court would attempt to dispose of cases within three months.
The proposal further emphasised the development of infrastructure, training for judges and lawyers, and continuous professional development to ensure effective court operations.
Before finalising the proposal, stakeholder consultations were held at several regional seminars jointly organised by the Supreme Court and UNDP on February 22, April 5, and April 12 of this year, in Mymensingh, Rangpur, and Khulna, respectively.
Judges, lawyers, development partners, and other stakeholders discussed strategies for setting up commercial courts.
Moreover, another seminar was held on July 21 of this year at BIDA Auditorium in Dhaka, organised by the UNDP and the Bangladesh Investment Development Authority, followed by a special seminar in Sylhet on August 17.
Inputs from these sessions were incorporated in finalising the proposal.
The country鈥檚 businesses have聽been urging the government to establish a specialised commercial court for a long time.
The press release also stated that legal experts and business leaders believed that the establishment of specialised commercial courts would mark a new era in dispute resolution, strengthen investor confidence, and accelerate economic growth.