Usually not on its own. Because Bangladesh generally follows a dualist approach, a treaty normally needs to be implemented through domestic legislation before it creates rights that a court will enforce directly. However, Bangladeshi courts have referred to international obligations when interpreting statutes and the fundamental rights in the Constitution, and a treaty may support an argument in a writ petition. Some treaties, such as investment treaties, provide their own public international law enforcement mechanism instead. We assess both the domestic and international routes, so that the client understands which forum can actually give the remedy it needs.

It can matter in several ways. The counterparty may claim immunity from suit or from enforcement against its assets, depending on the forum and whether the transaction is commercial. The contract may be affected by treaties between the States concerned, sanctions regimes or international financing conditions. If the State interferes with the contract, an investment treaty may offer protection. We review the counterparty's status, the contract's dispute resolution and waiver of immunity clauses, and the applicable treaties, so that the client knows how disputes would be resolved and whether an award or judgment could realistically be enforced.

Often they cannot, at least without their consent. International organisations operating in Bangladesh, such as UN agencies and multilateral lenders, typically enjoy immunities under public international law, their founding instruments, headquarters or host country agreements and related legislation. That affects contractors, landlords, suppliers and employees in disputes with them. Many organisations provide alternative dispute resolution mechanisms, such as arbitration clauses in contracts or internal tribunals for staff. We review the applicable immunity arrangements and contract terms, and advise on the realistic routes to resolve a dispute with an international organisation before rights are lost through delay.

The situation engages refugee protection principles, international human rights law and international criminal law. Bangladesh hosts a very large refugee population, while the conduct alleged against Myanmar has been raised in proceedings at the International Court of Justice and investigated by the International Criminal Court, of which Bangladesh is a party. For NGOs, donors and contractors working in Cox's Bazar and elsewhere, the practical issues often concern domestic registration, funding approvals, data protection, procurement and duty of care. We advise organisations on these obligations and on how international standards apply to their day-to-day operations in Bangladesh.

The 2012 and 2014 decisions on Bangladesh's maritime boundaries with Myanmar and India gave legal certainty over large areas of the Bay of Bengal, which matters for oil and gas exploration, offshore wind, fisheries, cables and shipping. In public international law, rights and duties in the territorial sea, exclusive economic zone and continental shelf differ under the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and domestic legislation governs licensing and environmental approvals. We help project developers and lenders understand which rules apply at the proposed site, what approvals are needed and how international obligations affect project design.

They can, even though Bangladesh does not apply many foreign sanctions as domestic law. United Nations Security Council sanctions bind Bangladesh as a member State, while unilateral sanctions imposed by the US, EU, UK or others may affect Bangladeshi businesses that deal in those currencies, use banks with exposure to those jurisdictions, or trade with sanctioned persons. Bangladeshi banks often apply foreign sanctions screening for this reason. Combining public international law and compliance analysis, we work with our sanctions colleagues and foreign counsel to assess exposure, structure transactions lawfully and respond to blocked payments or compliance enquiries from correspondent banks.

Potentially, if the decision breaches an international obligation that Bangladesh owes to another State or, under an investment treaty, to a qualifying investor. Under the rules of State responsibility, conduct of government organs, and sometimes of State-owned entities exercising public functions, is attributable to the State. Remedies may include cessation, compensation or other reparation. In practice, private parties usually need a treaty that gives them direct access to arbitration, or must rely on diplomatic protection by their home State. We assess whether any such route exists before advising on strategy, alongside domestic remedies such as a writ petition.

Bangladesh's planned graduation from least developed country status, for which the government has sought a deferral, affects the trade preferences it receives in major markets and some flexibilities under World Trade Organization agreements, including on intellectual property and subsidies. Exporters and investors need to understand how preferential schemes, rules of origin and transition periods will change, and how bilateral trade agreements under negotiation may replace lost benefits. These are matters of treaty and trade law with direct commercial consequences. We advise exporters, industry bodies and investors on the legal framework and help them plan for changes in their key markets.