The government has rolled out a combination of immediate and long-term measures to reduce the growing backlog of cases and accelerate their disposal nationwide, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman told Parliament on Thursday.
Responding to a starred question from treasury bench lawmaker AM Mahbub Uddin, the minister highlighted a series of legal, institutional and technological reforms aimed at modernising the judicial system.
He said Parliament has already passed amendments to key procedural laws during the current session to streamline court processes and reduce delays.
Among them, the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026 introduces provisions allowing summons to be served through SMS and voice calls, while complaints and written statements can now be submitted via affidavit.
The law also permits execution applications to be filed within original case, removing the need for separate execution suits.
According to the minister, the reforms are designed to simplify procedures and cut unnecessary delays. In certain cases, provisions now allow authorities to bypass proclamation and attachment processes for absconding accused, alongside expanding digital methods for serving summons.
He added that testimonies from investigation officers, doctors, and magistrates recording confessions are now being taken online under the Information Technology Act, 2020, reducing the need for their physical presence and speeding up trials.
To ease pressure on courts, separate judicial magistrate courts have been designated, enabling magistrates to focus more on trial proceedings.
So far, 871 courts and 232 judgeships have been established, while the process to create 304 additional judicial posts is underway.
The minister also said recruitment of 150 civil judges and more than 1,200 judicial staff is in progress to strengthen human resources in the judiciary.
Highlighting alternative dispute resolution, he noted that mediation has been made mandatory in selected disputes under the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act, 2026, which has already reduced litigation in pilot districts.
He further said free legal aid services have been expanded through a national hotline (16699), online platforms and support services for expatriates.
On infrastructure, the government plans to construct chief judicial magistrate court buildings in 23 districts while expanding facilities in others.
Digital transformation efforts are also advancing, including the introduction of e-bail bond management systems in 16 districts, e-family courts in Dhaka and Chattogram, and fully online cause lists to improve transparency and efficiency.
Additionally, information and service centres have been set up at district judge courts and chief judicial magistrate court premises to assist litigants.
The minister said initiatives such as digital marriage and divorce registration and a comprehensive “e-Judiciary” system are underway to ensure full digitisation of judicial operations.
He also noted that reforms to the Bangladesh Legal Practitioners and Bar Council Order, 1972 are in progress to enhance the quality of legal professionals.
Expressing optimism, the minister said these coordinated measures would gradually reduce case backlog and ensure faster, transparent and cost-effective justice delivery for citizens.
