Bangladesh is currently facing a massive hurdle in its legal system, with over four million cases stuck in lower courts. To fix this, the government has launched a major overhaul aimed at making justice faster, cheaper, and more transparent. By updating century-old laws and embracing modern technology, officials hope to end the long-standing “suffering of litigants” who often wait years for a resolution.
Updating the rules for the modern age
The core of this reform lies in two major legislative updates: the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026 and the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026. These new laws finally bring the courtroom into the 21st century. Instead of waiting weeks for paper documents to be delivered by hand, courts can now send official summons via SMS and voice calls.
Furthermore, the process for filing lawsuits has been simplified. Citizens can now submit their statements through affidavits, and lawyers can perform direct cross-examinations to speed up trials. A major win for efficiency is that “execution petitions”—the final steps to enforce a court’s decision—can now be handled within the original case rather than starting a whole new legal battle.
Taking the courtroom online
Digitalisation is the new backbone of the Bangladeshi judiciary. Under the Information Technology Use Act, witnesses like doctors, investigating officers, and magistrates no longer always need to travel to court. They can now give their testimony or record confessions online. This “e-Judiciary” approach keeps trials moving even when key people are far away, preventing the frequent delays that have historically clogged the system.
To support this, the government is rolling out several high-tech tools. An e-bail bond system is already working in 16 districts to handle prisoner releases more securely, and e-family courts are operating in major cities like Dhaka and Chattogram. Even daily “cause lists” (the court’s schedule) are now available online, so anyone can check their case status from a smartphone.
Settling disputes without a judge
Recognising that not every disagreement needs a full trial, the government is pushing mandatory mediation. Through the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act, most people must now try to settle their disputes through a mediator before they can go to trial.
These settlements are legally binding and carry the same weight as a court order. This “pre-litigation” approach is already active in 20 districts and is successfully stopping thousands of small disputes from ever reaching the judge’s desk. To help citizens navigate this, a new toll-free hotline (16699) has been set up to provide instant legal advice.
More judges, better buildings
Beyond technology, the government is investing heavily in people and infrastructure. To tackle the backlog, 871 new courts have been established, and hundreds of new judges and staff members are currently being hired. Plans are also underway to build new court houses in 23 districts to ensure there is enough physical space to hear cases.
From digitising marriage and divorce registrations to modernising the bar exam for lawyers, these reforms represent a total transformation of the legal landscape. While the challenge of 4 million cases remains significant, the move toward a digital, mediation-first system offers the most realistic hope for timely justice in Bangladesh’s history.
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