Bangladesh Chief Justice Dr Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed met with his Thai counterpart, Chief Justice Chanakarn Theeravechpolkul, in Bangkok on Tuesday, opening a potential new chapter for judicial collaboration between Bangladesh and Thailand.
According to the Bangladesh Embassy, the discussions centered on sharing best practices and enhancing cooperation between the apex courts of both nations.
In the meeting, Chief Justice Syed Refaat highlighted Bangladesh’s recent judicial reform initiatives, which aim to reduce case backlogs, increase transparency, and improve access to justice through digital transformation.
He discussed areas where Bangladesh’s judiciary could benefit from Thai expertise, particularly in arbitration, mediation, and digital solutions.
Congratulating Justice Chanakarn on her recent appointment as the third female President of the Thai Supreme Court, Chief Justice Syed Refaat commended Thailand’s progress in achieving gender parity within the judiciary.
He shared that since assuming office, he has appointed three female judges to lead the High Court Division’s Constitutional Benches.
The Thai chief justice responded positively to the idea of a bilateral judicial exchange program involving both Bar and Bench. She emphasized the need for continuous improvements in the judiciary to build public trust in legal institutions.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat extended an invitation to Justice Chanakarn to visit Bangladesh at a convenient time, which she welcomed.
During his arrival at the Thai Supreme Court, he was ceremonially received by senior court officials and signed the Visitors’ Book.
Earlier in the day, Chief Justice Syed Refaat held talks with Thailand’s Minister of Justice, Tawee Sodsong, where they outlined a roadmap for bilateral cooperation in judicial training, Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) development, and addressing gender equality within judicial processes.
Minister Sodsong also invited the chief justice to deliver lectures at Thai universities, including those in Southern Thailand's Muslim-majority regions.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat visited Bangkok to give a keynote address at the UN Conference Centre for the conference "Achieving Just Societies: Inclusive Justice Pathways for People and Planet in Asia and the Pacific.”
He later participated in a panel discussion on judicial independence and integrity, and met with Bangkok-based legal professionals, academics, and diplomats, accompanied by Bangladesh Ambassador to Thailand Faiyaz Murshid Kazi.
