Dr. Jamila A. Chowdhury :: Faculty Profile

Biography

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Dr. Jamila A. Chowdhury is a Professor of Law at the University of Dhaka, with over 22 years of experience in legal research and teaching. She holds a PhD in dispute resolution from the University of Sydney, Australia, where her thesis on "Women’s Access to Justice through Mediation" is archived in the Fisher Library’s “Rare and Special Collections”. Dr. Chowdhury has authored five books and more than 35 research articles, including the notable "Gender Power and Mediation: Evaluative Mediation to Challenge the Power of Social Discourses" (UK), which consolidates her PhD findings. Recently, her another edited book titled "Gender, Social Jstice and Sustainable Development: An Asian Perspective" is published from Cambridge Scholars Publishing UK (2026). Further, she contributed in generating new knowledge by supervising two PhD and one M.Phil fellows awarded earlier. Her contribution in research arena earned national recognition with "University Grants Commission (UGC) Awards" twice in 2005 and 2012. She was further acclaimed in the international arena, including the “Australia Day Award” for excellence in women’s empowerment research by the Australian National Women’s Council at the Parliament Houuse, NSW, Australia. A pioneer in promoting Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) in Bangladesh, Dr. Chowdhury has also been honoured with the JICA “Good Practice Award” in 2023 for her contributions to human resource development under Japan’s Government program in Bangladesh. Throughout her academic journey, she has received multiple awards and fellowships, including JICA-JDS Fellowship, UNESCO Fellowship, UNICEF Fellowship. Her outstanding performance was also imaged at her 4-years LL.B (Hons.) level, when she received the "Attorney Alamgir Gold Medal" for securing sole 1^st class 1^st position from the University of Dhaka, Bangladesh. Her passion for working with vulnerable has cemented her determination to pursue her drives for them.

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Degree Name	Group/Major Subject	Board/Institute	Country	Passing Year
Post Graduate Diploma	Tertiary Education	WINTEC	New Zealand	2017
Ph.D.	Dispute Resolution	University of Sydney	Australia	2011
Masters	Law	Niigata University	Japan	2004
Bachelor	Law	University of Dhaka	Bangladesh	1999
H.S.C	Humanities	Mymensingh Girls Cadet College	Bangladesh	1993
S.S.C	Humanities	Dhaka	Bangladesh	1991

Title	Organization	Location	From Date	To Date
Coordinator, 1st Year LLB	University of Dhaka	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Feb 2020	Present
Professor	Department of Law, University of Dhaka	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Oct 2018	Present
Associate Professor	Department of Law, University of Dhaka	Dhaka, Bangladesh	May 2014	Sep 2018
Assistant Professor	Department of Law, University of Dhaka	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Jul 2011	May 2014
Lecturer	Department of Law, University of Dhaka	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Sep 2006	Jul 2011
Lecturer, School of Law	Bangladesh Open University	Gazipur, Bangladesh	Sep 2005	Sep 2006
Lecturer, Department of Law	Prime University	Dhaka, Bangladesh	Mar 2005	May 2005

Research Interest

Subject	Description	Research Interest (Goal, Target Indicator)
ADR Curriculum Development	Under the socio-economic and cultural context of Bangladesh in one hand and a huge backlog of cases in formal courts the need for an integrated ADR course in Law Schools and training for diverged professionals on the application of ADR in their respective fields can not be emphasized more. See, ADR in Legal Curriculum: A Daunting Progress towards a Pressing Need inBangladesh,18(1) Korea University Law Review; See also, Accrediting divergent professionals in ADR: How a shift from pedagogy to andragogy can make a difference? Dhaka University Studies Part F,Vol.27(2).
Access to Justice and ADR	My research on Access to Justice involves physical barriers, including cost and time (delay). Other related issues are access to legal aid; See, Legal Aid and Women’s Access to Justice in Bangladesh: A Drizzling in the Desert, 1(3) International Research Journal of Social Sciences.
International Dispute Resolution	This research area is a relatively new area of exploration involving International Commercial Arbitration and International Peace Mediation; See, Lockdown And Restricted Movement Under Covid-19: Where Lies The Opportunities Of Institutional Arbitration During The Pandemic?, Celebrating the First 9 Years: Impact of BIAC on Institutional ADR in Bangladesh, Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre, Dhaka 2020 pp. 13-15.
Gender Justice	This stream involves applying 'Feminist Legal Research Methodology' to shed light on existing legal practices that seem pro-women, yet may have some serious negative consequence to fair access to justice for women. See my recent publication, A Gentle Breeze on the Wheels of Fair Justice for Women in Bangladesh: An Empirical Evaluation of Family Courts’ Mediation Underpinning Rawls’ Theory of Justice, Dhaka University Studies Part F, Vol.31; See also, ADR in Criminal Cases and Decriminalization of Violence: A Gender Perspective, Indian Journal of Law and Justice,Vol.7 (2).
Human Rights	This area constitutes my primary stream of writing, though not much explored in my specialized research areas.
Human Trafficking	This stream involves my sporadic research interest in human trafficking. See, one of my most read papers, Human Trafficking - A New Form of Slave Trade in Bangladesh, FOCUS Asia Pacific Human Right Center, Osaka, Japan; Vol. 37, November.2004.

Project/Research Supervision

Level of Study	Title	Supervisor	Co-Supervisor(s)	Name of Student(s)	Area of Research
Ph.D.	Potentials of Online Dispute Resolution in Bangladesh: Resolution of Disputes Among City Dwellers	Professor Dr Jamila A. Chowdhury		Md. Abu Nayem Miazi	Online Dispute Resolution
Ph.D.	Potentials of Shaming Punishment to Deter Rape in Bangladesh: A Constitutive Penology Approach	Jamila A. Chowdhury		Shrabanti Dutta (Current Student)	Criminal Justice (Rape)
Ph.D.	Settlement of Industrial Disputes: Potentials and Pitfalls of Industrial Arbitration in Bangladesh	Jamila A. Chowdhury	None	Mirza Farzan Iqbal (Current Student)	Industrial Dispute Resolution
Ph.D.	Combating Civil Suit Backlogs in Bangladesh: Potentials of Pre-trial Mediation for Expeditious Disposal	Jamila A. Chowdhury	None	Ifte Hasan Imran (Current Student)	Alternative Dispute Resolution (Mediation)
Ph.D.	Redressing Delay in Civil Courts: Feasibility of Hybrid Alternative Dispute Resolution Mechanisms in Bangladesh	Jamila A. Chowdhury	None	Md. Asaduzzaman (Current Student)	Alternative Dispute Resolution (Hybrid Modes)
Ph.D.	Alternative Dispute Resolution for Capital Market Regulation in Bangladesh	Jamila A. Chowdhury	None	Al Farhad Bin Kashem (current Student)	Capital Market Regulation
Ph.D.	Mediation under the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908: Legal and Institutional Reforms	Dr Jamila A. Chowdhury	None	Ifat Mubina Eusuf (Completed)	Effectiveness of mediation in civil courts

Project/Research Work

Subject	Project Name	Source of Fund	From Date	To Date	Collaboration
Communication for Development	Women Empowerment through Legal Awareness: Harnessing the Normative Leverage of Law to Promote Empowerment through Economic Participation	UNICEF	01-04-2020	28-02-2021

Invited Talk

SL	Invited Talk
1	Foreign Deligate. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Turkey, Participated as a Foreign Delegate in the ‘3rd OIC. Member States Conference on Mediation’, Conrad Hotel, Istanbul, Turkey, November 01, 2019.
2	Foreign Deligate, The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Republic of Turkey, ‘International Peace Mediation: Taking Stock and Looking Ahead ‘, Participated as a Foreign Delegate in the 6th‘Istanbul Mediation Conference’, Conrad Hotel, Istanbul Turkey, October 31, 2019.
3	Faculty of Legal Studies, SOA National Institute of Law, ‘Key Note’ presented in the International Seminar on Legal Interpretations of Professional Misconduct in India: A Multidisciplinary Approach, November 23, 2019.
4	Facilitated a Session on “Revisiting the Methods of Evaluation of Students Performance” for the faculty members of Department of Law and Human Rights, University of Asia Pacific under the Institutional Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC); September 23, 2018.
5	Panel Discussant, Webinar on Ad hoc vs Institutional ADR, Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre, 31 August 2020.

SL	Collaboration & Membership Name	Type	Membership Year
1	Member, Centre for Advanced Legal Studies (CALS), University of Dhaka		2022
2	Member, Executive Body, Bangamata Centre for Gender and Development Studies, University of Dhaka, April 2021 to date		2021
3	Member, Governing Body, Bangamata Centre for Gender and Development Studies, University of Dhaka	Member	2021
4	Member, Editorial Board, Journal of Legal, Ethical and Regulatory Issues, UK		2018
5	Member, Part F Editorial Board		2019
6	Member, Sexual Harassment Committee. University of Dhaka		2020

Book
1	Jamila A Chowdhury Mediation to enhance gender justice in Bangladesh: Navigating wisdom in Asia and the Pacific. Dhaka: London College of Legal Studies (LCLS), 2018 .
2	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) ADR Theories and Practices: A Glimpse on Access to Justice and ADR in Bangladesh, 1st Edition. Dhaka, Bangladesh: London College of Legal Studies (LCLS), 2013 .
3	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) Gender Power and Mediation: Evaluative Mediation to Challenge the Power of Social Discourses. Newcastle upon Tyne, UK: Cambridge Scholars Publishing, 2012 .
4	Jamila A Chowdhury and Dr. M. Shokry Eldakak (Former Justice and Chairman of the High Court of Appeal, Alexandria, Egypt) Women’s Access to Justice in Bangladesh through ADR in Family Disputes: Present Limitations and Remedial Measures with Some Lessons from Egypt. Mansoura, Egypt: Modern Bookshop, 2005 .

Book Section
1	Jamila A Chowdhury and Tania Haque "Sexual Harassment: A Glass Ceiling Barrier to Gender-Inclusive Sustainable Development in Bangladesh." Gender, Social Justice, and Sustainable Development: An Asian Perspective. Cambridge Scholars Publishing, UK, 2026 .
2	Jamila A Chowdhury (1st author) and QMH Supan "Quest for a Juridical Unicorn: Integration of Science in Legal Research and Curriculum." Legal Education in the University of Dhaka: A Centennial Review. Md. Rahmat Ullah (ed.) Dhaka: University of Dhaka, 2023 .
3	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury and Quazi Mahfujul Hoque Supan "Quest for a Juridical Unicorn: Integration of Science in Legal Research and Curriculum." Legal Education in the University of Dhaka: A Centennial Review. University of Dhaka, 2022 .

Journal Article
1	Jamila A Chowdhury : Women’s Empowerment in Bangladesh: Legal Strategies Sidestepping Social Norms, University of North Bengal , 2026 .
2	Jamila A. Chowdhury : Struggling Access to Justice through Mediation in Bangladesh: Headway Lessons from Australia, The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies , vol.4 , no.2 Department of Social Studies Education, Faculty of Social and Political … , pp.1-28 , 2025 .
3	Jamila A Chowdhury : ADR FOR RESOLVING MIGRATION DISPUTES IN BANGLADESH: QUEST FOR AN INTEGRATED NATIONAL FRAMEWORK, Sri Lanka Journal of International Law , vol.31 , no.2 University of Colombo , 2025 .
4	Jamila A Chowdhury : Closing the Gender Gap through National Budget Allocation: A Call for Greater Allocation on Women’s Economic Participation, University of Asia Pacific Journal of Law and Policy , vol.8 University of Asia Pacific , pp.1-22 , 2023 .
5	Jamila A Chowdhury : Weighing the Gender Hypothesis on Mediators: Insiders’ View from District Legal Aid Offices in Bangladesh, , Dhaka University Law Journal , vol.32 (Centennial Regular Issue) , no.2 University of Dhaka , pp.69-86 , 2021 .
6	Jamila A Chowdhury : Legal Liability of “Free-Riders” during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mere Negligent Public Nuisance or Reckless Public Health Offence?, Dhaka University Law Journal , vol.32 (Centennial Special Issue) , no.1 University of Dhaka , pp.174-195 , 2021 .
7	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Legal Liability of "Free-Riders" during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mere Negligent Public Nuisance or Reckless Public Health Offence?, Dhaka University Law Journal , vol.32 , no.1 , pp.174-195 , 2021 .
8	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) : A Gentle Breeze on the Wheels of Fair Justice for Women in Bangladesh: An Empirical Evaluation of Family Courts’ Mediation Underpinning Rawls’ Theory of Justice, Dhaka University Studies (Part F) , vol.31 , 2020 .
9	Jamila A Chowdhury and Nushera Tazrin Darin : Judicial Possibilities of ADR through ‘Plea Bargaining’ of Compoundable Offences: Potentials and Perils under the Current Socio-Legal Context of Bangladesh, University of Asia Pacific Journal of Law and Policy , vol.4&5 , no.1 , pp.1-18 , 2020 .
10	Jamila A Chowdhury and Nushera Tazrin Darin : Judicial Possibilities of ADR through „Plea Bargaining‟ of Compoundable Offences: Potentials and Perils under the Current Socio-Legal Context of Bangladesh, Journal of Law & Policy , vol.4 , no.1 University of Asia Pacific , pp.1-18 , 2020 .
11	Jamila A Chowdhury and Ifat Mubina Yusuf : A Gentle Breeze on the Wheels of Fair Justice for Women in Bangladesh: An Empirical Evaluation of Family Courts‟ Mediation Underpinning Rawls‟ Theory of Justice, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.31 University of Dhaka , 2020 .
12	Jamila A Chowdhury and Ifat Mubina Eusuf : Women’s Empowerment in the Justice Delivery System of Bangladesh: Social milieus and women’s sluggish progression in Bar and Bench, Kanagawa Law Review , vol.51 , no.3 , pp.57-94 , 2019 .
13	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury and Ifat Mubina Eusuf : Women's empowerment in the justice delivery system of Bangladesh: Social milieus and women's sluggish progression in Bar and Bench (山﨑公士先生退職記念号), 神奈川法学 ( Law Journal of Kanagawa University, Japan) , vol.51 , no.3 神奈川大学法学会 (Faculty of Law, Kanagawa University, Japan) , pp.782-745 , 2019 .
14	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury and Ifat Mubina Eusuf : Women’s empowerment in the justice delivery system of Bangladesh: Social milieus and women’s sluggish progression in Bar and Bench (山﨑公士先生退職記念号), 神奈川法学 (Law Journal of Kanagawa University, Japan) , vol.449 , pp.449-453 , 2019 .
15	Jamila A Chowdhury and Aminul Islam : Divergence in NPL Recovery of Public Banks vs. Private Banks in Bangladesh: Could ADR be an effective Tool to Improve the Parity?, Dhaka University Studies (Part F) , vol.29 , pp.87-104 , 2018 .
16	Jamila A Chowdhury and none (self authored) : Accrediting divergent professionals in ADR: How a shift from pedagogy to andragogy can make a difference?, Dhaka University Studies (Part F) , vol.27 , no.2 , pp.15-32 , 2018 .
17	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (self authored) : Three Waves of Access to Justice in Bangladesh: Call for a System Approach to Success, Dhaka University Studies (Part F) , vol.26 , no.1 , pp.73-96 , 2017 .
18	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (self authored) : Gender Parity through Evaluative Mediation: Controlling Disparity under the Post-structural Notion of Power, Dhaka University Studies (Part F) , vol.25 , no.1 , pp.31-52 , 2017 .
19	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) : ADR in Criminal Cases and Decriminalization of Violence: A Gender Perspective, Indian Journal of Law and Justice, Indian Journal of Law and Justice , vol.7 , no.2 , pp.1-19 , 2016 .
20	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : ADR in Criminal Cases and Decriminalisation of Violence: A Gender Perspective, Indian Journal of Law and Justice , vol.7 , pp.1-19 , 2016 .
21	Jamila A Chowdhury : Accrediting divergent professionals in ADR: How a shift from pedagogy to andragogy can make a difference?, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.27 , no.2 University of Dhaka , pp.15-32 , 2016 .
22	Jamila A Chowhdury and None (Self authored) : Paradox of Neutrality in Mediation: An analysis under High Power-Distance vs.Low Power Distance Cultural Dichotomy, Bangladesh Journal of Law , vol.15 , no.1 & 2 , pp.1-20 , 2015 .
23	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) : Cultural Repercussion on Mediation: Exploring a Culturally Resonant Mediation Approach Germane to Asia, Journal of Malaysian and Comparative Law , vol.42 , no.1 , pp.43-65 , 2015 .
24	Jamila A Chowdhury and None (Self authored) : ADR in Legal Curriculum: A Daunting Progress towards a Pressing Need in Bangladesh, Korea University Law Review , vol.18 , no.1 , pp.3-13 , 2015 .
25	Jamila A Chowdhury : Three Waves of Access to Justice in Bangladesh: Call for a System Approach to Success, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.26 , no.1 University of Dhaka , pp.73-96 , 2015 .
26	Jamila A Chowdhury : Paradox of Neutrality in Mediation: An analysis under High Power-Distance vs. Low Power Distance Cultural Dichotomy, Bangladesh Journal of Law , vol.15 , no.1and 2 Bangladesh Institute of Law and International Affairs , pp.1-20 , 2015 .
27	Jamila A Chowdhury : Gender Parity through Evaluative Mediation: Controlling Disparity under the Post-structural Notion of Power, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.25 , no.1 University of Dhaka , pp.31-52 , 2014 .
28	Jamila A Chowdhury : Pro-women Metamorphosis in Legal Discourses on Matrimonial Rights: Is Family Mediation a Speed-way to Reap Its Fruit?, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.23 , no.2 University of Dhaka , pp.127-50 , 2014 .
29	Jamila A Chowdhury : Gender Justice in Bangladesh: A Time and Cost Impact to Resolve Family Disputes through Litigation vs. Court Connected Mediation, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.22 , no.2 University of Dhaka , pp.77-92 , 2014 .
30	Jamila A Chowdhury : Introduction of ADR in criminal cases, The Daily Star (English Daily) , vol.9 , 2013 .
31	Jamila A Chowdhury : ADR Theories and Practices: A Glimpse on Access to Justice and ADR in Bangladesh, Dhaka: London College of Legal Studies (LCLS) , 2013 .
32	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Legal Aid and Women’s Access to Justice in Bangladesh: A Drizzling in the Desert, International Research Journal of Social Sciences , 2012 .
33	Jamila A Chowdhury : Unveiling the True Extent of Family Violence in Bangladesh: A Retrospect, Pakistan Journal of Women's Studies , vol.19 , no.2 , 2012 .
34	Jamila A Chowdhury : Legitimacy of Mediators’ Power and Techniques of Intervention in Out-of-Court Family Mediation: An Empirical Observation Using the Riskin’s Grid on Mediation, Dhaka University Studies Part F , vol.21 , no.1 University of Dhaka , pp.85-112 , 2011 .
35	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Women's Access to Fair Justice in Bangladesh: Is Family Mediation a Virtue or a Vice?, University of Sydney, Australia , 2010 .
36	JAMILA AHMED CHOWDHURY : ACCELERATING WOMEN ACCESS TO JUSTICE, Gender, Rights, and Security Serials Publications , pp.214 , 2010 .
37	Jamila A Chowdhury : Gender, Power and Mediation: Post-Structural Power in Social Antiquity, Pakistan Journal of Women's Studies , vol.15 , no.2 University of Karachi , pp.101-116 , 2008 .
38	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Family Court ADR in Egypt and Some Exemplary Provisions for Other Muslim Countries, Dubai International Arbitration Centre (DIAC) Journal , vol.2 , no.Special Edition Dubai International Arbitration Centre , pp.49-72 , 2007 .
39	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Power Imbalance and Its Impact on Mediation of Family Disputes Involving Family Violence: Australian Perspective, Dhaka Univ. Stud. Part F , vol.17 HeinOnline , pp.173 , 2006 .
40	KUBO Makoto and Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Women's Rights and Discrimination in Bangladesh: Achievements Made and Challenges Remaining for the 21st Century, Osaka Sangyo University Journal of Law, Japan , vol.6 , no.2 , pp.47-85 , 2005 .
41	KOSHI Yamazaki and Jamila A Chowdhury : Violations of Human Rights in Bangladesh: Are Islamic Values Liable?, 法政理論 (Journal of Law and Politics, Japan) , vol.37 , no.3 新潟大学 (Faculty of Law, Niigata University, Japan) , pp.143-177 , 2005 .
42	Jamila Ahmed Chowdhury : Human trafficking-A new form of slave trade in Bangladesh, Asia Pacific Human Right Center, FOCUS , vol.37 , 2004 .
43	Jamila A Chowdhury and Mehnaz Siddiqui : Struggling Access to Justice through Mediation in Bangladesh: Headway Lessons from Australia, The Indonesian Journal of Socio-Legal Studies , vol.4 , no.2 , pp.4 .

Award Type	Title	Year	Country	Description
International	JICA-JDS Good Practice Award	2023	Japan	Among 100s of JDS fellows who visited Japan from 2002 to 2022 to get their master's degree or Ph.D., only five were selected for the best implementation of their lessons for strengthening the development and friendship between Japan and Bangladesh. I was the fourth and only female among those five fellows.
National	UNICEF-UGC Research Fellowship	2020	Bangladesh	This fellowship is the first-ever UGC-UNICEF joint research fellowship awarded to three public university teachers of Bangladesh under an open call to research on "Communication for Development".
National	UGC Award 2012 (UGC Gold Medal) SECOND TIME	2012	Bangladesh	Each year, in the ‘Research Book’ category, one book is nominated under an open call to all public and private university teachers holding a permanent position in their respective institutions.
International	Australia Day Award	2008	Australia	The selection process is undertaken by the participating university faculty, subject to final approval by the Sponsor and the New South Wales Awards Committee of National Council of Women, established in 1896.
International	University of Sydney International Research Scholarship	2008	Australia	The 3.5-year research scholarship was provided for pursuing PhD in Dispute Resolution under the Emeritus Professor Hilary Astor, the former commissioner of the New South Wales Law Reform Commission.
National	UGC Award 2005 (UGC Gold Medal) FIRST TIME	2005	Bangladesh	Each year, in the ‘Research Book’ category, one book is nominated under an open call to all public and private university teachers holding a permanent position in their respective institutions.
International	UNESCO/Suzanne Mubarak/Japan-Egypt Friendship Research Fellowships for the Empowerment of Women in Peace a	2005	Egypt	The fellowship was awarded to commemorate the inauguration of rebuilt Bibliotheca Alexandria, once the world's biggest library. This facility is now a part of UNESCO world heritage.
International	Japan Development Scholarship (JDS)	2002	Japan	This JICA-JDS fellowship was introduced in 2002 for fellows to conduct two year Masters in various universities of Japan. Courses are taught entirely in English with one year of research in the 2nd year.

Name & designation Dr. Jamila A. Chowdhury Professor

Department Department of Law Faculty of Law

Email jamilachowdhury@du.ac.bd

Phone cell: 01718147837, 880-2-9661900,