Govt takes multiple steps to reduce case backlog: Law minister

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Thursday said the government has taken a series of short- and long-term measures to reduce the backlog of cases and ensure their speedy disposal across the country.

He said amendments to key procedural laws have already been passed in the current session of Parliament to modernise judicial processes.

The minister made the remarks while replying to a starred tabled question from treasury bench lawmaker AM Mahbub Uddin, elected from Noakhali-1, UNB reports.

“The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026 introduced provisions for serving summons through SMS and voice calls, submission of complaints and written statements via affidavit and direct cross-examination. It also allows execution applications to be filed within the original cases, eliminating the need for separate execution suits,” he said.

He said the amendments aim to reduce unnecessary delays by simplifying procedures, including provisions to bypass proclamation and attachment processes for absconding accused in certain cases, and introducing digital methods for serving summons.

He added that testimonies of investigating officers, doctors and magistrates recording confessions are now being taken online under the Information and Communication Technology Act, 2020, enabling faster trials without requiring physical presence of witnesses.

To ease the workload, separate judicial magistrate courts have been designated, allowing magistrates to focus more on trial proceedings.

A total of 871 courts and 232 judgeships have already been created, while the process to create 304 additional judges’ posts is underway, the minister said.

Recruitment of 150 civil judges and more than 1,200 judicial staff is also in progress, he added.

Md Asaduzzaman said mediation has been made mandatory in selected disputes under the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act, 2026 before filing cases in courts, which has significantly reduced litigation in pilot districts.

He said free legal aid services have been expanded, including a hotline (16699), online services and support for expatriates.

The minister added that infrastructure development is also ongoing, including plans to construct chief judicial magistrate court buildings in 23 districts and expand facilities in others.

Digital initiatives such as e-bail bond management (already operational in 16 districts), e-family courts in Dhaka and Chattogram, and fully online cause lists have improved transparency and efficiency, he said.

He further said information and service centres have been set up in all district judge and chief judicial magistrate court premises to assist litigants.

Projects such as digital marriage and divorce registration and a comprehensive e-Judiciary system are also underway to fully digitise judicial operations, he added.

Md Asaduzzaman said reforms to the Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Order, 1972 are also in progress to improve the quality of legal professionals.

He expressed hope that these coordinated measures will gradually reduce case backlog and ensure faster, transparent and cost-effective justice delivery for citizens.