AGO, UNDP and Sweden launch third batch of legal internship programme
The Attorney General’s Office (AGO), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Sweden have launched the third batch of a six-month internship programme aimed at equipping young law graduates with practical experience and professional skills.
The announcement came at a convocation and orientation ceremony held at the Supreme Court Auditorium in Dhaka on October 13, marking the successful completion of the programme’s second batch and welcoming the incoming interns.
Launched in 2025 with support from Sweden, the AGO–UNDP Internship Programme seeks to bridge the gap between academic legal education and professional practice. Interns receive hands-on training in constitutional and public interest cases, legal research and professional mentorship under the Attorney General’s Office.
Speaking as chief guest, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman stressed the importance of practical experience and professional ethics in legal education.
“Lawyers are social engineers who play a vital role in shaping a better future for the country,” he said, adding that equipping young legal professionals with knowledge, integrity and strong ethical values was essential to protecting people's rights and strengthening respect for the legal profession.
The minister also underscored the need for transparent, merit-based selection and equal opportunities for graduates of public and private universities.
The programme aims to provide practical training to at least 100 young legal professionals annually, reaching 500 over five years.
Attorney General Barrister Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, who chaired the ceremony, said investing in young legal professionals was an investment in the future of justice in Bangladesh.
Through practical training and mentorship, the programme is preparing a new generation of lawyers with the skills and commitment needed to uphold the rule of law and protect citizens’ rights, he said.
Stephen Rodriques, resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh, urged the incoming interns to look beyond the technical knowledge of law and understand its broader purpose.
“It is not enough to know the law. You must also understand what the law is meant to protect and who it is meant to serve,” he said.
Nicolas Weeks, ambassador of Sweden to Bangladesh, said the programme offered promising young legal professionals an opportunity to contribute to reform and engage in dialogue.
He encouraged them to lead with integrity, courage and a strong commitment to justice.
At the ceremony, outgoing interns received certificates recognising their successful completion of the programme, while Additional Attorney General Mohammad Arshadur Rouf administered the oath to the incoming third batch.
Barrister Zahrat Adib Chowdhury, MP, attended as special guest. Barrister Tasnuva Shelley, deputy attorney general and director of the internship programme, moderated the proceedings, while Romana Schweiger, senior adviser at UNDP Bangladesh, moderated the opening session.
The initiative reflects a joint effort by the Attorney General’s Office, UNDP and Sweden to strengthen legal institutions, promote professional ethics and expand opportunities for young legal professionals to contribute to a more accountable and effective justice system in Bangladesh.
