Digital courtroom ready, suspects to attend hearings from jail

In a move aimed at removing security risks tied to transporting high-risk prisoners to court, authorities have launched a digital courtroom at the Chief Metropolitan Magistrates (CMM) Court in Dhaka.

Under an office order issued on Wednesday, Magistrate Mohammad Mustafizur Rahman designated Courtroom No. 28 as a “digital courtroom”.

The initiative will allow suspects in major cases -- including terrorism, militancy and corruption charges -- to attend their hearings remotely from inside prison using video conferencing tools.

According to the order, a number of high-profile and sensitive cases are currently under trial at the CMM Court. Every day, inmates from high-security prisons such as Kashimpur and Keraniganj are transported under heavy security to appear before the court.

Many of these prisoners are facing charges linked to militant activities, organised crime, or serious corruption. The process of transferring them to and from the court has frequently raised security concerns, it added.

It noted that public outrage toward certain defendants has added to tensions outside the court during transport.

 “These kinds of situations often overwhelm the law-enforcing agencies,” it read. “To resolve this, current legal practice allows for witness testimonies and case hearings to be conducted through audio-video or other electronic means.

“Following those guidelines, Courtroom No. 28 has been equipped as a digital courtroom to improve the situation.”

The order specifies that hearings for suspects accused in such cases will be conducted through the Zoom platform in this courtroom.

State prosecutor Shamsud Doha Sumon said the prison authorities and other stakeholders have also been ordered to cooperate accordingly.