PROCEEDINGS OF PROMOTING A MULTISTAKEHOLDER APPROACH TO SUPPORT CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM IN BANGLADESH TO ENHANCE EQUAL ACCESS TO JUSTICE FOR ALL

Bangladesh Institute of International and Strategic Studies (BIISS) and United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) jointly organised a Dialogue titled ‘Judicial Reform’ on Thursday, 26 June 2025 at Pan Pacific Sonargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh. H E Dr Asif Nazrul, Honourable Advisor, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, graced the Dialogue as the Chief Guest. The event was divided into four sessions including the inaugural session and based on the following themes, such as: i) Strengthening access legal aid services to those detained, arrested or imprisoned, suspected or accused of, or charged with a crirninal offence and for victims and witnesses, ii) Supporting the establishment of impartial, professional and accountable public prosecution service, and iii) Strengthening policeprosecution cooperation for more efficient, human-rights based investigation. Senior officials from different ministries related to judicial system; members of Judiciary Reform Commission; Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI); Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association; Dhaka Bar Association; Attorney General’s Office; High Court Division; Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Dhaka; District Session Court; Metro Station Court; CMM Court; National legal Aid Support Organisation (NLASO); Public Prosecutors; Subordinate Court, Dhaka; Different branches of Bangladesh Police; Department of Narcotics Control; Department of Prisons; Bangladesh Border Guard (BGB); Bangladesh Coast Guard (BCG); National Board of Revenue (NBR); Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC); Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU); Bangladesh Forest Department (BFD); Financial Institutions Division of Ministry of Finance; Department of Immigration and Passports; UN Residence Coordinator’s Office; UNDP; UNICEF; UNFPA; UN Women; IOM; UNOPS; UNHCR; ILO; OHCHR; researchers, academics, and students from various universities, representatives from different Civil Society Organisations (BLAST, Adhikar, Madaripur Legal Aid Association; GIZ) participated in the Dialogue and enriched it by presenting their valuable opinions, media, comments, suggestions, and observations during the open discussion session.