As part of an ongoing collaboration between the Supreme Court of Bangladesh and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) a regional seminar on Judicial Independence and Efficiency was held today in Khulna to take stock of the country-wide impact of ongoing justice reforms.

The event brought together key national and international stakeholders to reaffirm the importance of a strong and independent judiciary in achieving good governance and sustainable development.

Dr. Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed, Honorable Chief Justice of Bangladesh, was present as the Chief Guest. In his remarks, Chief Justice asserted, "The quest for justice is not a fleeting endeavour; it is the lifeblood of our collective commitment. Each reform we champion strengthens the foundation of a judiciary that is fair, fearless, and future-ready." He added, "What we are building today is not just for us, the road ahead demands courage, conviction, and collaboration. We have proven that when we align, no goal is too ambitious."

The seminar opened with remarks from Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, who emphasized UNDP's role in supporting judicial reforms as part of its broader governance agenda. "UNDP's support for justice reform is part of our broader commitment to advancing key reforms in Bangladesh. Over the past months, we've worked closely with various reform commissions and partnered with the UN system to support preparations for the national election" said Stefan Liller.

He further added, "Earlier this week, UNDP supported the Bangladesh Investment Summit 2025, in collaboration with BIDA and BEZA, to promote investment that drives sustainable growth and development. The discussion around introducing commercial courts-both at the Summit and today-reflects growing momentum and recognition of their importance. We are proud to be part of this important reform journey, led by the Honorable Chief Justice."

Ambassador Nicolas Weeks of Sweden highlighted the link between justice and sustainable development, saying, "Judicial independence and efficiency are key to peace, justice, and strong institutions. Sweden is proud to support Bangladesh in strengthening its justice sector and advancing the Sustainable Development Goals."

Echoing this commitment, Ambassador Michael Miller, Head of the EU Delegation to Bangladesh, added, "The European Union is a long-standing partner of Bangladesh. We fully support the country's ambitious judicial reform efforts, which are essential for strengthening governance, upholding human rights, and restoring public trust in institutions."

"We are about to launch a new project to support the digitalization of services under the National Legal Aid Services Organization. This is a vital step toward making justice more transparent, efficient, and accessible, especially for people in rural areas," said Michael Miller.

Among others, Justice Mohammad Ali, Honorable Judge of High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Romana Schweiger, Senior Rule of Law, Justice and Security Advisor, UNDP Bangladesh, also spoke at the event.

The event featured technical sessions focusing on the ongoing reform roadmap and interactive group discussions aimed at identifying practical steps to enhance judicial independence and service delivery.