Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday underscored his government’s commitment to ensuring equal access to justice, declaring that it is a constitutional right of every citizen rather than an act of charity.
He emphasised the vision of building a nation where all individuals - regardless of position - are treated equally under a fully independent and impartial judiciary.
The Prime Minister made these remarks while inaugurating the e-bail bond system at Bogura District Court, which has also been introduced simultaneously in six other district courts.
He described the initiative as a significant step forward in modernising the justice system and making legal processes more accessible to the public.
Tarique Rahman explained that under the new digital system, judges will be able to verify bail orders and transmit them directly to prison authorities online, allowing for the immediate release of detainees once approval is granted.
He said this would help eliminate unnecessary delays, reduce harassment, and ease the suffering of those navigating the judicial process.
He further revealed plans to integrate the system with national platforms such as the Crime Data Management System (CDMS), court case management tools, and national ID verification services. According to him, this integration will bring greater efficiency, transparency, and accountability to the judiciary.
Highlighting past challenges, the Prime Minister alleged that previous governments had used the legal system to harass political opponents through false cases and fabricated warrants.
He added that reforms, including online systems for production warrants and release orders, would help prevent such abuses and streamline legal proceedings across districts.
Tarique Rahman also stressed that courts must become places where citizens feel protected rather than intimidated, noting that restoring trust in the judiciary could help curb incidents of mob justice.
He reiterated his administration’s goal of establishing a corruption-free legal system grounded in fairness and transparency.
The e-bail system has initially been rolled out in Bogura, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Magura, Rajshahi, Natore and Kushtia, with plans for nationwide expansion.
The Prime Minister expressed optimism that this would reduce case backlogs and address inequality in justice delivery, reiterating that delayed justice is effectively denied justice.
Sharing a personal reflection, Tarique Rahman spoke about his 18-month imprisonment during the one-eleven period, pointing out that many inmates remain behind bars due to poverty and lack of legal awareness.
He called on the Law Ministry to strengthen legal aid services to support disadvantaged detainees.
The programme was chaired by Law Minister Asaduzzaman Khan.
Law Ministry Secretary Liaquat Ali Bhuiyan, the Prime Minister’s spouse Dr Zubaida Rahman and several members of parliament from Bogura, among others, were also present at that time.
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