Bangladesh, Thailand Chief Justices Discuss Judicial Ties

Bangladesh’s Chief Justice, Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed, met with Thailand’s Chief Justice Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul in Bangkok

The meeting marks a significant step toward strengthening ties between the apex courts of Bangladesh and Thailand. Chief Justice Refaat emphasized the potential for both judiciaries to learn from each other’s best practices, particularly in areas such as arbitration, mediation, and digital solutions.

Refaat briefed his counterpart on key judicial reforms in Bangladesh, including efforts to reduce case backlogs, increase transparency, and expand access to justice through digitization. He also highlighted the progress made since his appointment following Bangladesh's July revolution.

The Bangladesh Chief Justice congratulated Justice Chanakarn on her recent appointment as the third female President of the Thai Supreme Court, commending Thailand for its near gender parity within the judiciary. Refaat also shared that he had appointed three women as heads of the Constitutional Benches in Bangladesh’s High Court Division.

Justice Chanakarn expressed support for ongoing reforms in Thailand’s Supreme Court, emphasizing the importance of strengthening public trust in the judiciary. She also discussed the possibility of creating a bilateral judicial exchange program involving both the bar and the bench.

During the visit, Chief Justice Refaat invited his Thai counterpart to visit Bangladesh at a mutually convenient time. Upon arrival at Thailand’s Supreme Court, he was ceremonially welcomed by senior court officials and signed the Visitors’ Book.

Earlier, Refaat met with Thai Minister of Justice Tawee Sodsong, where they discussed collaboration in judicial training, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR), and gender-sensitive judicial processes. Minister Sodsong also extended an invitation for Refaat to deliver lectures at universities in southern Thailand, including in the Muslim-majority provinces.

Chief Justice Refaat visited Thailand to give a keynote address at the UN Conference Centre in Bangkok, during the conference “Achieving Just Societies: Inclusive Justice Pathways for People and Planet in Asia and the Pacific.” He also participated in a panel discussion on judicial independence and integrity and engaged with local lawyers, academics, and diplomats. Bangladesh’s Ambassador to Thailand, Faiyaz Murshid Kazi, accompanied him throughout the visit.