Speakers at a roundtable discussion organized by the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) at BRAC University yesterday emphasized the urgent need for reform to address the growing challenges to the rule of law in Bangladesh.
The event held at the BRAC Centre in Dhaka brought together experts, academics, journalists, and activists to examine the alarming decline in Bangladesh’s legal and justice systems and explore ways forward.
At the event, participants called for urgent reforms to the justice system, including regular evidence-based evaluations, strengthening democratic norms, and incorporating ethics and integrity into the education system to foster a more accountable and just society.
At the opening the session, Manzoor Hasan, executive director of CPJ, underscored the importance of addressing the systemic issues undermining the rule of law in Bangladesh.
Shahariar Sadat, deputy executive director of CPJ, moderated the discussion, which included a wide-ranging exchange of ideas from a diverse group of participants, including journalists, NGO representatives, lawyers, university students, and activists.
One of the key concerns discussed was Bangladesh’s declining performance on global indices.
Over the past decade, the country's ranking in the World Justice Project’s Rule of Law Index has dropped from 93rd in 2015 to 127th in 2023, reflecting a gradual erosion of the rule of law.
Similarly, Bangladesh’s position on the Global Peace Index has fallen from 84th in 2015 to 93rd in 2024. These trends, according to the speakers, have had a negative impact on both peace and access to justice in the country.
Participants also highlighted the judiciary’s backlog of 4.3 million cases, which grows by approximately 200,000 cases annually.
During the event, Dr Faustina Pereira, senior fellow at CPJ, presented a historical overview of the rule of law, peace, and justice in Bangladesh.
The discussion centered on identifying key factors contributing to the weakening of the rule of law.
Among the factors highlighted were political influence over the judiciary, lack of accountability within law enforcement agencies, a flawed democratic system, insufficient legal awareness among citizens, and weak law enforcement mechanisms.
The roundtable also examined key challenges in improving the rule of law, including the persistence of colonial-era legal frameworks, declining ethical values, inadequate protection of minority rights, and the entrenchment of power politics that have led to the capture of key institutions.
Participants identified the need for institutional reforms, public education on legal rights, and the implementation of more inclusive policies to address these systemic challenges.
The event concluded with Irene Khan, UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression. Khan emphasized the distinction between the rule of law and "rule by law" and stressed the importance of human-centred justice.
She called on the government to prioritize a justice system that meets the needs and rights of individuals, particularly marginalized and vulnerable communities.
Khan warned that without a strong commitment to human rights, the rule of law could easily devolve into a tool for enforcing authority rather than ensuring justice.
