Law Minister says government taking multi-pronged steps to clear pending cases

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman today told Parliament that as of December 31, 2025, a total of 40,41,924 cases remained pending in subordinate courts across the country.

Replying to a written question from opposition lawmaker Md. Quamrul Hassan (Mymensingh-6), the minister said the government has taken a range of multidimensional initiatives to ensure the swift and effective disposal of the large backlog.

He said the government is committed to reducing the suffering of justice seekers by ensuring timely, transparent, and affordable access to justice. “With the gradual implementation of these measures, the backlog of cases is expected to decline significantly, allowing people to receive justice more promptly,” he added.

The minister also noted that the Ministry of Law will take public suggestions into account to further reduce case congestion and improve access to justice.

He said the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has already been passed in Parliament to introduce necessary reforms. The amendments include provisions for serving summons via SMS and voice calls, submitting plaints and written statements through affidavits, and allowing direct cross-examination. It also enables applications for decree execution to be filed within the original case instead of requiring separate suits.

To speed up criminal trials, the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Bill, 2026 has also been enacted. The law allows for the waiver of proclamation and attachment procedures in certain cases involving absconding accused, helping to reduce delays. It also incorporates digital methods for serving summons, increasing the use of technology in court proceedings.

Under the Information Technology Act, 2020, testimonies of investigating officers, doctors, and magistrates recording confessional statements are now being taken online, contributing to faster trials, he said.

To tackle the backlog, the government has established 871 courts and created 232 new judicial posts. Efforts are underway to create an additional 304 judge posts, while recruitment of 150 civil judges is ongoing.

The Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission has recommended the appointment of 708 judicial staff, with the recruitment process for another 553 staff members currently in progress.

The minister said a special committee led by the Solicitor has been formed to expedite investigations and trials of high-profile cases, including those involving violence against women and children.

He also highlighted steps to strengthen legal aid services, including increasing the number of judges at district legal aid offices, appointing experienced mediators, and operating a toll-free hotline (16699).

Additionally, cause lists of both subordinate and higher courts have been fully digitised, enabling people to check hearing dates online, which has improved transparency and reduced harassment in the judicial process.

He further said that under an ICT infrastructure development project, online registration of Muslim marriages and divorces will soon be launched in 102 unions across 10 districts, a move expected to help prevent fraud and reduce related litigation.