Bangladesh’s first international conference on decolonising law and criminology was held at Daffodil International University (DIU) on 2 August, bringing together legal scholars, judges, policymakers, researchers, lawyers and students to examine law, criminology and the justice system beyond colonial frameworks.

Organised by the Department of Law, the Daffodil Legal Research Center (DLRC) and several national and international academic institutions, the conference was held under the theme, “Unshackling the Mind: Decolonising Law, Criminology and Justice in Bangladesh.”

The conference marked the first initiative of its kind in Bangladesh to focus on the colonial legacy of law, criminology and the justice system while promoting discussions on indigenous knowledge, justice and alternative legal approaches.

Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin, State Minister for Land and Chattogram Hill Tracts Affairs, attended the event as the guest of honour. Professor Dr Md Sabur Khan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of DIU, was the chief guest, while Dragan Popovic, Senior Programme Adviser (Governance) at UNDP Bangladesh, joined as the special guest.

Among the distinguished participants were Justice M A Matin, former judge of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and Justice Zinat Ara, Chairman of the Bangladesh Law Commission.

The conference featured presentations by academics and legal professionals from Bangladesh and abroad, including Syeda Shazia Sharmin, Deputy Attorney General of Bangladesh; Barrister Ragib Rauf Chowdhury, Chairman of the Legal Education Committee of the Bangladesh Bar Council; Professor Dr Selcuk Aydin of Boğaziçi University, Türkiye; Professor Dr Md Robiul Islam, Dean of the Faculty of Law at Jahangirnagar University; Ram Tiwari, Executive Director of the Nepal Forum for Restorative Justice; and researchers from several universities and institutions.

Academic sessions included paper presentations and panel discussions on four themes: Indigenous Justice Systems, the Impact of Colonialism on Bangladesh’s Justice System, Decolonising Security and Counter-Terrorism, and Transitional Justice and Criminology.

Addressing the conference, Barrister Mir Mohammad Helal Uddin said the government aims to strengthen institutions through necessary reforms, protect human rights and make Parliament more effective in building a more just and inclusive society.

Barrister Ragib Rauf Chowdhury said Bangladesh’s diverse culture and social realities require legal frameworks that better reflect local perspectives, particularly in areas such as land distribution and management.

The organisers said the conference created a platform for advancing research in law and criminology, strengthening international academic collaboration and encouraging new perspectives on justice. They expressed hope that the initiative would contribute to future research, policy dialogue and legal reforms in Bangladesh’s post-colonial legal system.