Businesses urged to adopt BIAC Model Clause in commercial contracts

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq said with over 2.7 million cases pending in courts, foreign companies and investors feel discouraged to cut commercial deals with Bangladesh.

The government has already made substantive amendments in some of the major acts like Civil Procedure Code, Artha Rin Adalat Ain, Customs, VAT and Income Tax Act making mediation mandatory, he added, said a statement.

He lauded the role of the Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) for promoting the cause of ADR in the country.

The minister said: "Training in Arbitration will enhance our capacity and generate confidence among businessmen and investors in ADR."

He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of 'Training of Trainers in Arbitration' as the chief guest at a city hotel on Sunday.

The five-day programme is organised by Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC) in collaboration with International Law Institute (ILI), Washington DC and supported by International Finance Corporation (IFC).

Chairman of BIAC Council and also President of ICC-B Mahbubur Rahman presided over the function.

He appealed to the business community to adopt BIAC Model Clause in their commercial contracts and urged the government to consider using BIAC Arbitration Rules and BIAC Mediation Rules in governmental contracts wherever possible.

He suggested the participants to avail full advantage of this high profile training which is being provided at a subsidised cost.

Chief Executive of BIAC Dr Toufiq Ali said among the trainees, most of them are lawyers, either practising in the courts, or working with government departments, law firms, banks, or in universities.

"Those who qualify at this session should be able to conduct training sessions on arbitration in future", he expressed the said.

Among others, President MCCI Rokia Afzal Rahman, Programme  Manager of IFC Masrur M. Reaz, one of the trainers from International Law Institute (ILI), Washington DC David Branson and two former trainees of BIAC Abdul Muyeed Chowdhury and Shireen Scheik Mainuddin also spoke on the occasion.