Dhaka:The government is set to launch another e-family court and the country's first e-family appeal court in Dhaka tomorrow, expanding a paperless judicial system that allows litigants to file cases, attend hearings, give testimony, and undergo examination virtually.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the initiative aims to make family justice faster, easier, and more transparent by reducing paperwork, minimizing physical visits to courts and lawyers' offices, and enabling litigants to access case information and proceedings through their phones or computers.
The government launched two e-family courts, one in Dhaka and the other in Chattogram, at the end of last year. Building on their experience, the authorities are now preparing to introduce another e-family court and the country's first e-family appeal court. E-Family Court-5 in Dhaka has received 169 cases so far, including two filed last year, of which 36 have already been disposed of, according to a senior official involved in the project.
The digital system also enables litigants to obtain certified copies of court orders instantly by paying a small fee, instead of waiting seven to 10 days under the conventional system. The fee goes directly to the government treasury, while QR codes on digital certified copies allow their authenticity to be verified.
The Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs has trained four judges, along with officials and staff, to operate the system. More than 1,000 lawyers in Dhaka and Chattogram have also received training to help ensure the effective operation of the e-family courts.
"From filing a case to its disposal, all proceedings are conducted online through the e-family court system. Justice seekers no longer have to run to court to seek remedies or repeatedly visit their lawyers. They only need to register with the e-family court system, log in using their secure passwords and file cases online," said Dr. Md Rezaul Karim, spokesperson for the ministry.
Another senior official, who spoke to BSS on condition of anonymity, said litigants could view all relevant information about their cases on their dashboards after logging into the system. They no longer need to appear physically before the court, as proceedings can be accessed through their phones or computers.
The system is designed to accelerate case disposal by eliminating delays associated with maintaining written records and handling paperwork. "All updates are recorded automatically, maintaining an online register," the official added.
To ensure wider access, litigants who do not have smartphones or are unable to read and write can seek assistance from lawyers through government legal aid services. The lawyers can guide them through every step of the process. Specific policies and directives are in place to address privacy concerns, particularly for women and children, ensuring that their privacy is protected.
The ministry is also appointing interns for the first time to provide technical support to the courts.