Press Release
Dhaka, 11 December 2025:Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) organised a day-long training training workshop titled “Climate Change Litigation, Environmental Adjudication & Rule of Law” for judges from various districts and relevant officials of law ministry. The training workshop, in collaboration with the ministry and Supreme Court, was organised to enhance the applicable functional knowledge and skills of the participants regarding constitutional and international environmental law, justice, and effective implementation in resolving climate-related disputes in Bangladesh.
In the training held this Thursday at TIB’s Dhanmondi office, 25 officials and judges of various levels participated, including District and Sessions Judges, Additional and Joint District and Sessions Judges, Metropolitan Sessions Judges, Senior Judicial Magistrates, and Senior Assistant Secretaries from the Ministry of Law and Justice, representing Dhaka and various other districts.
During his opening remarks, TIB Executive Director Dr Iftekharuzzaman said, "According to national-level research and international analyses including those by United Nations Environment Programme(UNEP), Bangladesh is among the countries with the most significant gaps in the proper application of environmental laws. In this context, TIB has taken this initiative, recognising the importance of further developing the skills of the honourable judges of the environmental courts and the personnel of relevant institutions in light of global experiences and international best practices. TIB will strive to continue this process according to its capacity in the future." TIB Advisor, Executive Management, Professor Dr Sumaiya Khair also spoke during the inaugural session, which was moderated by Mohammad Tauhidul Islam, Director of Outreach and Communication at TIB.
The day-long sessions were conducted by Dr Shawkat Alam, Professor of International and Environmental Law at Macquarie University, Australia, and Dr Muhammad Ekramul Haque, Professor of the Department of Law at Dhaka University. They discussed in detail the rule of law, good governance, and international environmental principles; the application of climate change-related laws globally and in South Asia; and judicial remedies and reflections regarding environment and climate within the legal framework of Bangladesh. Through group exercises and discussions, climate adaptation and rehabilitation activities were evaluated by reviewing various legal aspects, global practices, and perspectives on environmental justice.
Participating judges and officials shared their professional experiences regarding environmental pollution control, climate change-induced displacement, and industrial environmental standards during the group work. Highlighting how deeply the training content relates to their work, participants noted that weaknesses in law enforcement, institutional complexities, and systemic limitations act as barriers to effective environmental protection. The judiciary has a vital role in addressing these issues. They called for immediate steps toward environmental conservation, emphasising the audit of industrial waste and strict enforcement of laws to prevent river pollution, implementing forest conservation laws by involving local communities to stop deforestation, increasing investment in modern waste management and waterlogging prevention in urban areas, and climate adaptation and rehabilitation activities for people in coastal and vulnerable regions.
Following the training, certificates were distributed among the participants by TIB’s Executive Director, Advisor, Executive Management, and the trainers. The participating judges and officials expressed their gratitude to TIB while sharing their experiences regarding the training.
Media Contact:
Mohammad Tauhidul Islam
Director, Outreach and Communication
Mobile: 01713-107868
E-mail: tauhidul@ti-bangladesh.org
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