Mr Md Asaduzzaman
The Honourable Attorney General and
Chairman of the Bangladesh Bar Council
Supreme Court of Bangladesh
Dhaka, Bangladesh

Dear Honourable Attorney General,

We, the undersigned, comprising distinguished lawyers, judges, academics, and professionals from across the Bangladeshi diaspora, write to you collectively to express our support for granting enrolment rights to UK-qualified solicitors of Bangladeshi nationality to practise as advocates in Bangladesh.

Bangladesh and the United Kingdom share a unique historical bond that has profoundly shaped our legal traditions. Bangladesh’s legal system, rooted in the common law principles introduced during British governance, reflects a shared foundation that continues to influence our jurisprudence. Recognising this connection, we believe it is both timely and appropriate to further strengthen professional ties between the two nations by enabling British Bangladeshi lawyers to contribute directly to the legal profession in Bangladesh.

We wish to draw your attention to Article 21(b) of The Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Order and Rules 1972 (as amended in 2013), which allows individuals who are law graduates and have practised as advocates in courts outside Bangladesh (notified by the Government in the official Gazette) to apply for enrolment as advocates in Bangladesh. By virtue of this provision, UK-qualified solicitors and barristers practising in the Senior Courts (including the High Court) of England and Wales are eligible for such recognition.

Furthermore, the UK legal system provides reciprocal opportunities for lawyers from Bangladesh and other common law jurisdictions to practise in the UK, including becoming Registered Foreign Lawyers (RFL) without the need for entrance exams or additional qualifying work experience. Despite this, Bangladeshi nationals practising as solicitors in the UK do not currently enjoy similar enrolment rights in Bangladesh.

This lack of reciprocity is a missed opportunity for Bangladesh to benefit from the expertise, global perspective, and professional dedication of its diaspora. Enabling UK-qualified solicitors to enrol in Bangladesh will:

1. Foster greater collaboration between the legal communities of Bangladesh and the UK.
   
   
2. Enrich the Bangladeshi legal landscape by integrating highly trained and experienced professionals.
   
   
3. Demonstrate Bangladesh’s commitment to global legal cooperation and mutual recognition of qualifications.

We respectfully urge your office to champion this cause and engage with the Bangladesh Bar Council to facilitate the recognition and enrolment of UK-qualified solicitors and barristers in Bangladesh. By doing so, you will uphold the principles of fairness, professionalism, and inclusivity that define our legal traditions.

This initiative will undoubtedly reinforce Bangladesh’s position as a progressive nation, proud of its diaspora’s achievements and keen to integrate their expertise into its professional domains.

We trust in your commitment to advancing the legal profession in Bangladesh and look forward to seeing meaningful progress in this regard.

On behalf of all signatories

Yours sincerely,

Mahadi Hassan
General Secretary
The Society of British Bangladeshi Solicitors
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