The New Nation - Internet Edition

DU Correspondent

A three-day training workshop titled 'Update on Mediation' began yesterday at the city's Judicial Administration Training Institute with 40 judges and lawyers as participants.

As a step towards Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) the training has been organised to update the mediation skills of the participants who later shall train 300 newly recruited judicial officers and lawyers in six divisions of the country. The purpose of the training is to introduce mediation as the initial step for dispensation of justice.

Former Adviser to the caretaker government and Inspector General of Police (IGP) ASM Shahjahan inaugurated the training course as the chief guest while Law Secretary Kazi Habibul Awal attended the function as the special guest.

Martha Gibson, Acting Director of British Council delivered the welcome address on the occasion and presented a brief outline of the programme.

Two British experts- Lawrence Kershen and Carey Haslam and three Bangladeshi experts- Justice Mustafa Kamal, Justice KM Hasan and Justice Mohammad Anwarul Haque will conduct different sessions of the training seminar.

Speaking on the occasion, chief guest ASM Shahjahan said, ADR could be made mandatory at the initial stage of justice to make the justice delivery system easier to save expenses and time in judicial process.

He said the complicated and dilatory system of dispensation of justice ultimately amount to denial of justice. He laid emphasis on rehabilitation of the victims alongside ensuring punishment for the criminals.

Kazi Habibul Awal said, a case could be disposed off within very short period by applying ADR, as both the two sides of the case might have a win-win situation in process of mediation.