Mohammed Forrukh Rahman

Practice Areas

Mr. Mohammed Forrukh Rahman is a leading dispute resolution expert with a distinguished career. Admitted to Lincoln’s Inn and the Bangladesh Supreme Court, he possesses deep legal expertise. Renowned as an arbitrator and international arbitration practitioner, his practice covers arbitration, litigation, and mediation. Specializing in construction, energy, shipping, aviation, and commercial disputes, he handles complex cross-border matters including international law. His expertise extends to trade, customs, and company law disputes. His leadership in the field is underscored by his inclusion on the panels or list of prestigious institutions such as the SIAC, SCMA, SARCO and his active membership in the ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR and LMAA.

With a distinguished career spanning two decades, Mr. Rahman has specialized in dispute resolution, shipping, and cross-border legal matters. As the founding Head of Chambers/Managing Head, he has successfully cultivated significant growth within the firm’s Dispute Resolution, Shipping covering commercial, aviation works, and International divisions covering international arbitration, international law, environmental, IP and IT works. His prior experience, including pupillage under Mr. Ajmalul Hossain KC, an international arbitration practitioner, working for A Hossain & Associates, roles at Power Cell and Bangladesh Bank, and contributions to Lee. Khan and Partners, has fortified his legal acumen and laid a solid foundation for his career.

Mr. Rahman has a proven track record of representing clients in high-stakes litigation and arbitration proceedings. His experience encompasses a wide range of complex legal matters, including those involving international commercial disputes covering aviation, customs, construction covering power & energy, company, employment, shipping and trade. Notably, he has argued before the courts in numerous significant cases and has served as an arbitrator in domestic disputes. Furthermore, Mr. Rahman has acted as an co-arbitrator in local arbitration, local counsel and lead legal counsel in a number of international arbitration proceedings involving matters and parties unrelated to Bangladesh, demonstrating his expertise in cross-border dispute resolution and his ability to navigate the intricacies of international legal frameworks.

Dispute Resolution:

Mr. Rahman leads our Dispute Resolution Division. He has been enrolled as an Advocate of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, the highest court in the country, since 2023; also as an Advocate of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh since 2008; and as an Advocate of the District and Sessions Judge Court, Dhaka since 2006. Over the past 17 years as a lead counsel, he has argued numerous cases involving various issues, including banking, natural justice, white-collar crime, debt recovery, insurance, credit information, tenancy, and labor and employment, before various forums, including the High Court, judges’ courts, arbitral tribunals, and other statutory tribunals. Two dozen of his cases have been reported in leading law reports of Bangladesh. In very complex matters, Mr. Rahman also appeared with Mr. Ajmalul Hossain KC, Senior Advocate, before various High Court benches. Their successful teamwork has resulted in a number of reported, groundbreaking decisions setting precedents, such as 69 DLR (2017) 408 and 70 DLR (2018) 409. The notable works of Mr. Rahman are as follows:

1. Successfully argued Natural justice in Amjad Hossain vs. Bangladesh Bank reported in 17 BLC (HC) 188;

2. Successfully argued Insurance related claims in Abdul Jalil vs Artha Rin Adalat reported in 67 DLR 475.

3. Argued for central bank in the high profile “Rana Plaza” case involving negligent liability of the owner, causing tragic death of 1000+ people due to collapse of the defective building.

4. Represented successfully in an arbitration for Knight Frank Development Ltd. in the area of construction & engineering. We represented the developer before the tribunal and argued on legal implications of Joint Venture (JV) Agreements, Mortgage, Power of Attorney (POA) and several contractual terms and conditions involving termination, force majeure, delay, contractual remedies etc.

5. Successfully conducted hearing of writ petition involving gas line connection related disputes through dedicated line 150 psi 12- inch gas line for TM Textiles and Garments Ltd reported in 6 CLR (HCD) (2018) 65,70 DLR (2018) 409.

Shipping:

Mr. Rahman is the head of Shipping Division (Shipping Department; Commercial Department). As a counsel, he appeared before Admiralty Court of High Court Division in several shipping matters e.g. collision, bunker claim, mortgage claim, ownership disputes, charter-party disputes etc. He was the lead counsel in the ground breaking case namely Freight Management and 16 others vs. Bangladesh Bank involving legality of House Bill of Lading. Most notable works of Mr. Rahman are as follows:

1. Successfully argued in the landmark decision given in the matter of Ship Finance and Jurisdiction of Admiralty court between First Security Islami Bank Ltd vs MV Javed and others reported in 69 DLR (2017) 408.

2. Successfully argued in the matter of Freight and Charges involving Maersk Bangladesh Limited vs Bangladesh reported in 4CLC(HCD)79.

3. Successfully argued in the matter of LC Fraud (Hallmark case) Alvi Spinning Mills Ltd and others vs Govt. of Bangladesh reported in 19 MLR(HCD)277.

4. Successfully argued in the landmark case between Freight Management and 16 others vs. Bangladesh Bank reported in 2 CLR (HCD) 586; 19 MLR (HCD)336 involving the legality of House Bill of Lading/Receive for shipment of Bill of Lading 2 CLR (HCD) 586; 19 MLR (HCD)336,

5. Successfully argued Admiralty and Maritime claim involving Marodi Services vs MV Swift Cro. Reported in 2 CLR(HCD) (2014) 456

International:

Mr. Rahman is the head of the International Division (comprising International Department; IT & IP Department). He has been involved in several cross border contentious matters namely international arbitration, cross border shipping and commercial litigation involving private international law issues, insolvency, acquisition etc and also issues involving International law such as taxation, investment, etc were handled by him. Starting with the most recent, notable works of Mr. Rahman are as follows:

International Department

1. Advised Bunge S. A., Switzerland involving claim for hire by disponent owner in relation to cargo discharged in Bangladesh on different aspect of applicability of local arbitration laws in an international arbitration pending in LMAA.

2. Represented UK P&I Club and the owner of M.V. SUPRAMAX VIVI in a collusion matter which took place in Bangladesh but the Parties chose Singapore are a forum and decided not to appear before Bangladesh Courts. As Bangladesh counsel we worked together with HFW, an international law firm and were actively involved in advising, drafting petition based on private international law principles challenging the jurisdiction of Singapore.

Corporate & Finance:

The notable works of Mr. Rahman are as follows:

1. Conducted several due diligence for LDA Capital, involving security laws of Bangladesh, and assisted a US-based client in structuring a complex transaction involving Backstop Liquidity Facility (“BLF”).

2. Advised client in a complex restructuring deal involving privatization and lease of the entire facility of Bangladesh Jute Mills Corporation (BJMC), once a major foreign exchange earner by exporting golden fibre (jute).

3. Takeover of an OOCL company as part of a global takeover, Corporate reorganization of a major leather company and a major foreign investment company in garments and textiles sector among its shareholders.

4. Was involved in a number of major syndications, project finance transactions for City Bank Ltd and drafting of several laws, circulars, regulation and guidelines for Central bank.

5. Advised Power Cell over procurement matters, drafting PPA, LLA, IA etc for small IPP, IPP and rental projects while he was acting as a Legal Consultant on a fulltime basis for Power Cell, Power Division from 2007 to 2008.

Professional Memberships

● Fellow, Hong Kong Institute of Arbitrators (FHKIArb)

● Member, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators (MCIArb)

● Member, Singapore Institute of Arbitrators (MSIArb)

● Delegate, ICC Commission on Arbitration and ADR

● Panel Arbitrator, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA)

● Panel Arbitrator, Shenzhen Court of International Arbitration (SCIA)

● Panel Arbitrator, SAARC Arbitration Council (SARCO) (2019 - 2025)

● Supporting Member, London Maritime Arbitration Association (LMAA)

● Accredited Mediator, Centre for Effective Dispute Resolution (CEDR), UK

Publications

● “Intellectual Property and Information Technology related Alternative Dispute Resolution”, SAARC Arbitration Council Newsletter, 10th Edition, Jan 2024.

● “Overview of Bangladeshi Arbitration and Maritime Law”, Singapore Chamber of Maritime Arbitration (SCMA), 2021.

● “Arbitration Under International Law”, SAARC Arbitration Council Newsletter, 2019.

● “Preference of Mediation, Conciliation & Arbitration over Adjudication under Sharia law”, BIAC 10th Anniversary Magazine.

● “Power Sector Related Arbitration in Bangladesh”, BIAC 6th Anniversary Souvenir.

● “Investment Arbitration of Bangladesh”, Rahman's Chambers Newsletter Vol.2, 2017.

● “Interim Measures in International Commercial Arbitration”, Rahman's Chambers Newsletter, Vol. 2, 2012.

● “Construction and Engineering Related disputes in Bangladesh”, BIAC Quarterly Bulletin 2017.

● “Power Sector Related Arbitration in Bangladesh”, BIAC’s 6th Anniversary Souvenir.

Languages Spoken

● Bengali: Native

● English: Fluent

● Hindi: Conversational

● Urdu: Conversational

Education

Expert in these Jurisdictions

● Advocate, Appellate Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh (2023)

● Advocate, High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh (2008)

● Barrister-at-Law, The Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn, London (2003) (Not practicing in the UK)