Govt advances digital judiciary to reduce public sufferings

Bangladesh’s judiciary is undergoing a significant transformation as the government pushes efforts to digitize court services, aiming to reduce case backlog, ensure transparency, reduce the sufferings and make justice more accessible to citizens.

Legal experts and officials say that the shift toward a digital court system can mark a turning point in how justice seekers interact with courts, cutting delays and minimising procedural complexities that have burdened the system for long.

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Asaduzzaman recently informed before the Jatiya Sangsad that a series of initiatives have already been undertaken, including e-bail bond management, e-family courts, online cause lists and digitisation of marriage and divorce registration.

Officials mentioned that the introduction of e-bail bond management in nine districts has already begun reducing time and costs for lawyers, prison authorities and litigants, as bail bonds can now be submitted online. The system is expected to be expanded nationwide in phases.

Similarly, the launch of e-family courts in two districts is allowing cases related to family disputes to be filed, heard and processed online, making the system faster and more cost-effective while reducing the need for repeated physical presence at courts.

One of the most immediate benefits for the public has come from the digitisation of cause lists. Court dates, which previously required physical visits or reliance on intermediaries, are now accessible online, enabling litigants to track their cases from home.

To further bridge the information gap, information and service centres have been set up at all Chief Judicial Magistrate courts across the country, helping litigants access to case-related information, track progress, and prepare for next hearings more efficiently.

Highlighting the broader vision, the minister said, “Once these initiatives are implemented in phases, the number of pending cases across the country is expected to decrease significantly, and people will receive justice timely.”

Experts believe that digitisation of marriage and divorce registration under the Civil Registration and Vital Statistics (CRVS) initiative will add another layer of transparency. The planned rollout in 102 unions across 10 districts is expected to reduce fraud and curb disputes arising from undocumented or manipulated records.

At the core of these efforts lies the proposed “e-Judiciary” project, which aims to bring all judicial activities from case filing to document preservation under a unified digital platform. The project is currently under review by the Planning Commission.

Underscoring the government’s commitment, the minister said, “The government remains committed to easing the sufferings of justice seekers and ensuring speedy, transparent and affordable justice.”

The reforms also aim to address one of the country’s longstanding challenge, a large backlog of pending cases. Concerned authority expressed the hope that phased implementation of digital tools would gradually ease pressure on courts and ensure delivery of justice on time.

As Bangladesh moves forward with these reforms, the success of the digital judiciary will largely depend on effective implementation, infrastructure readiness and public adaptation to the new system.