Bangladesh, March 4 -- International law, in principle, should be the guiding force in shaping peaceful relations between countries, resolving conflicts before they escalate into wars, and ensuring a fair global system that upholds justice for all. For decades, it has been perceived as the cornerstone of global governance, rooted in the aftermath of World War II, and designed to ensure that the atrocities of war were never repeated. Yet, the reality today is far more disheartening. International law, while theoretically omnipresent, has struggled to maintain its relevance and authority, particularly when it challenges the interests of powerful nations.

The global political landscape was fundamentally reshaped after World War II. The defe...