Arbitration. The Bangladesh Arbitration Act 2001 - Some Reflections arbitral institutions. suggests a number of improvements to the legisla In this article, the author discusses the salient features of the Arbitration Act 2001 of Bangladesh and on. A number of suggestions are made as to steps that could be taken to promote international arbitration and ADR culture, education and training in Bangladesh through the joint efforts of the Government, judges, lawyers and other professionals and Prof AFM 2 Maniruzzaman * T he Banglacleshi Arhvation Act 2001 {the Act! or 2001 Act came into force on 10 Apri 2001.!1 repeated the Arbitration (Protocol and Convention) ‘Act 1937 and the Arbitration Act 1940,2 legacies of the Bish Rajini, The 2001 ‘Act was amendled ina numberof respects in 2004?, Such legiatve steps were urgent inthe Bight of increasing foreign investment in Bangladesh in various sectors, especially in natural gas andl power, andl the ever- rowing export trade with the rest of the ‘world, The Act consolidates and modifies the law rotating to both domestic and ‘ntematonal commercial abitaion. 1 thus ‘creates a single and wife legal egime for aubitationin Bangladesh. This moderisaion makes Bangladesh a more attractive place for dispute resolution in the field of international trade, commerce and investment. Although the 2001 Act is ‘pase principally on the UNCITRAL Model Las itis someting ofa patchwork quit as there are some unique provisions derived from the Indian Arbiation and Conciation ‘Act 1996 and the Engish Arbitation Act 1996 The 2001 Acthas 59 sections onrised in 14 chapters as folows: Chapter (51) intioductory matters; Chapter I (ss 2-8) general provisions; Chapter Il (Ss 9-10) aubitration agreement; Chapter 1V (ss 11 16) composition of arbitral buat; Chapter 617-22) justin of abit ibunas Chapter VI (s 23-35) conduct of abil proceedings; Chapter Vis 36-41) making of arbitral award and termination of proceedings; Chapter Vi (ss 42-43) recourse against arbitra avard Chapter IK {5 44) enforcement of arbitral awards; Chapter X (ss 45-47) recogrition and enforcement of certain foreign arbitral awards Chapter (48) appeals; Chapter XA (ss 49:56) miscellaneous (epost of Costs dapute as to arbitao's remuneration or costs, bankruptcy, limitation, ete); Chapter XI (55 57-58) supplementary proviions (power of the Government or of the Supreme Court make res); Chapter XIV (559) repeal and savings. ‘he salet features of the 2008 Act are as folows. 1. The preamble desctibes the legion as An Act to enact the ka relating t0 inteational commercial arbitration, recognition and enforcement of lores axbital awards and othes arbitrations” ‘The Acts; however, aso appkcable to domestic abiation 2 In an international commercial arbitation, one of the pais to the dspute must be either a company registered or firm controlled from overseas ora forelgn national 3. The dspute in question must are out of a legal relationship, whether contactual or no, that's considered to be a commercial dispute under Banglades low. 4, ‘The parties ate feee to determine the umber of arbittors. I the partis (ai to fix the number of arbivators the teibunalis to consis of thee arbitaors, The parties may choose an arbitrator or axbitators of any nationaty and the chaiman ofthe tribunal may be of any nationality if that is accepted by the paris 6. The course the Cour ofthe Dist Judge inspect of domestic commercial arbivation andthe High Court Division ofthe Supreme Cout of Bargladesh in respect of international commercial arbivation) canintervene with regard to the appointment of party appointees and tnbunal chairmen. Declsons hall bye made within sity days from the receipt of a party's pplication. 7. The court shall respect the partis! agreement to arbitrate. ta so doing it may stay and refer to arbitration ary legal proceedings that have been commenced against one party to the agreement. 8 The partes ae free to agree on the venue for the arbitration ang hich the arbival tribunal having regard to the reumstances ofthe case including th convenience of the parties, shall teen it 9. Inthe absence of party agreement as 0 the language of the proceedings, the tibunal can use any language it deems appropriate 10.The Act observes the doctrines of severbilty ofthe arbitration agrcoment and Kompetenz-Korppetenz, so that the tebunal can cule on its own juiscetion, ‘The tribunal isnt bound to folow the Code of Civil Procedue 1908 or the Fvidence Act 1872. Subject to the parties! agreement, it may adopt any procedure for conducting the abil proceedings. 12. respect to the substance of a dispute, 1 [2005] Asian DR 73Arbittetion— awards. It is desirable that this Afldrsand concemedinsitutions would 4 Aalabieathtpthnvanctla/enindecin responsibilty shouldbe vento the High allow crossertlization of knowledgein $ AFM Manituzzaman, The Problems and Court Dvsion, even fit means adjusting the fleld of dspate resoltion Chaterges FocngSetement of ential fregy Deputes by ALR Method yA The the Code of Chl Pree muta 7. Leabut oti dr2001 At codbe Benn by A nbn A: xan nh prpone. eatege aa ber eceareste cece cee i Trits Coie ages a te 1 repaid eens cote all netge eae reeens seems Create a specialist arbitration bench inthe UNCITRALModellaw onirieratonsl ‘Mode! Law Decisions: Cases Applying the the High Court Division for the purpose Commercial Conciaion (2002)"" There UNCITRAL Model Law on lternalions! Gdetngth nena! wbiion —Sembes ose vend nfond Set tt 85-200 tae tatters) more effectively and) dispute esolution laws towards arbesrans Devs 20035 ek Bhs, telecast womans vaca tt-Uecaety tamer esis it eons nasa ceee eae My be carsuted oY sppohing2tderiPesen ore" je set reer os re jeenaietee atte neces let te seat uivelapevsnce ear atiniaeaaoa fe teammates eh ee era ae epenrie axbitation. It may even mean relaxing Unies of Prisma Unted don ‘Abivton ower 1989 Aon ares A the constitutionally required Aiea sere One oar reee Commentary on the UNCITRAL Model Law on Ipaaeee ant ence at Eta tee EE EEE ee aie a ae Ye cacao loa it Sivact stable people to ths postion?" yetbnen publaed,Eorairotby way 7” See Mrs Mazza, Developing and Crate essen namte al 17 nern ee aananeenertas The esabishment of a specilst bench reseed tthe Cancer oCorgadesnty 20051 Rian DRL 62 inthe Heh Court Dion wou shor ee ene the Governments smiouness hi Bopose er tncing 'eompchcehe 3. SturSouipecitmcat a tenets peponta Wie aerate Sie atte 2s nea et ean = ie ome mene se accord, noeatnte See ‘ron ee ‘community and create confidence in Gazette Extraordinary (19 February 2004). Concifation Act 1996 (No 26 of 1996) pees paces oe Tuts iol lo ones sor tacpn atlas ere The easier iat ty cue Snel sd cer oe beer onsen args ne DEES arnt race fr abaion . rppoilabe bein new appointment legion on bivalon in ede iene eeaee reterfee”arbaton “tv The Govern, har an eer an EVANS & PECK HONG KONG fs pleased feo ideas of ae to ammeunce th opponent of of arbitation in Bangladesh, judges andl JOHN COCK Troyes eat be aa fe cof lorena aa thea dapte tsk en he fecce Dagnn Pje Monee aerate ate hn when he ee eaten une nceaactaaaees outs They mat age promo Evans Peck feo te rng of pce ein station on AR ine ere of Hott dbery fone concn, The Government and profesional vais engeerig aod tk moegomen ban ooiranre pedi Je recent jane th Ev Pek Hong Korg inte noe udcdene ne tet ons th dey ofthe seen eS i Understanding of these processes by partular for: Sponsoring andl conlicting ecko Dispute resobion adie serees ond support and Waring programmes for both the «Expert witness series for arbitration and higotion iar andthe Bench and for arbitration etna control ond specication adiee mad ADR. professionals Such re propane: vosiep thee bee Beretta ff recent developments in the theory and practice of arbitration and ADR. EVANS & PECK (HONG KONG) COMPANY LIMITED. 171, 88 Lockhart Rood Woncha\ Hong Keng Furthernote geradona seat Telephone:+852 2722 0986 Fox +052 2492 2127 ‘regional and international conferences ‘organized under the joint auspices of the Ministry of Law and Pariamentary Emaithongkong@eranspeckcom — winuevonspeckeom Spey bee, eh Met, Ne Zeon Ka £2005] Asian DR 75 8