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May 16, 2004 

A new approach to train judicial officers

Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs (BILIA) has been in the vanguard in training the judicial officers of Bangladesh for a long time now. BILIA initiated the concept of training the judicial officers in 1985. Recently, BILIA has changed its approach in training the Judges. Unlike the past, the main thrust of the current programme is entirely based on interactive and participatory approach. The judicial officers play a more proactive role in the programme through their interaction and sharing their experiences both with the resource persons and the BILIA authority. They try to throw new light on issues and create ideas for imparting novel system of orientation in developing legal education system in jurisprudence based on experience at home and abroad.

BILIA has thus developed new modules on the following topics: Protection of consumer rights, Environmental laws in Bangladesh and their application, Case management system in Bangladesh, Professional ethics and code of conduct, Taking cognizance and framing of charge and investigation and further investigation, Juvenile justice administration in Bangladesh, Theory and practice of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), Development and application of the Patent Act, Design Act, Copyright Act and Trademarks Act of Bangladesh, Applicability of norms of international law in our municipal courts, Concept, development and scope of Public Interest Litigation, Concept and development of independence of judiciary, and violence against women: current situation and trend, Existing laws and need for their Reforms.

Most recent module introduced is 'Protection of Consumer Rights'. Mr. Gene George, Director of USAID, representatives of CAB and UNDP and Justice K.M. Subhan along with Director BILIA conducted this session. Mr. Gene George observed, "The need to provide some level of protection of the general populace as consumer involvement in a number of aspects of daily life depends upon some form of purchase."

Mr. Justice Mustafa Kamal put emphasized on Modern Case Management (MCM) system for the speedy disposal of cases. About 'Professional Ethics and Code of Conduct', Barrister Mainul Hossein and Justice Anwarul Huq said that independence should be there on the part of the judges without any bias and judges should be law abiding, abstemious, truthful wise in opinion, cautious and untouched by greed. Mr. Md. Azizul Haque, director (training) JATI, and Dr. M. Zahir introduced new flavour in the areas of taking cognizance and framing of charge and investigation and further investigation leading to criminal revision. 'Concept and development of independence of judiciary' was discussed by Former Chief Justice Mr. A.T.M. Afzal, Justice Naimuddin Ahmed and Mr. Kim McQuay, Representative of the Asia Foundation.

At the concluding session State Minister for Law, Barrister Mohammad Shahjahan Omar Bir Uttam M.P., Advocate Sultana Kamal, and Justice K.M. Subhan while discussing violence against women they wanted CEDAW to be implemented.

BILIA acting Chairman Mr. Kibria and founder chairman Dr. Kamal Hossain played important role in the success of the current judicial training programme.