Michael Polak speaks at International Conference on The Democratic Collapse & Rebuilding of Bangladesh at the House of Lords
On 19 November 2024, Michael Polak participated as a special guest and speaker at the international conference, “Discussion of Democratic Collapse & Rebuilding of Bangladesh”, held at the House of Lords in London. The event was organised by Voice for Bangladesh, and also featured Dr M. Sukhawat Hussain, Advisor to the Interim Government of Bangladesh, as a special guest.
The audience also heard from a number of other experts on the topic, including Abbas Faiz, former head of Amnesty International South Asia, Labour MP Dr Rupa Huq and Lord Carlisle KC. The event was hosted by Lord Hussain.
During his speech, Michael expressed his hopes for a peaceful and democratic Bangladesh and noted that the country has a golden opportunity to reform the institutions which failed to prevent the atrocities of the previous regime. He also spoke about embedding independent institutions to protect the rights of the people of Bangladesh and prevent international crimes, such as enforced disappearances and summary executions, from being used as tools of oppression by future governments.
Michael also emphasised the need to address past human rights violations through an effective international judicial process for those at the very top of the previous regime, stressing that such a process would offer the most effective path to justice for the victims of these violations and their families.
Michael has travelled to Bangladesh on two occasions, and represented Mir Ahmad Quasem, a barrister who was abducted, subject to enforced disappearance, and kept in the Aynagor, a secret security forces black site, for 8 years until he was released upon the Bangladesh student protest which caused the previous Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to flee the country to India.
Speakers at the conference underscored the importance of accountability, the rule of law, and international collaboration in rebuilding a democratic and peaceful Bangladesh.
Michael Polak is available for instruction in international law and other matters by contacting his clerks by email, clerks@churchcourtchambers.co.uk, or by phone on +44 (0) 20 7936 3637.
News of the conference was published across the Bangladeshi media, in Prothom Alo, The Daily Manab Zamin and The Daily Observer.
