Sylhet: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr. Asif Nazrul today emphasized the necessity of continuing the legal and institutional reforms initiated by the interim government to ensure justice. “One of the five main problems in Bangladesh is the crisis of justice. We have done many legal and institutional reforms, which no one has carried out in the past. If the next government maintains these reforms, there will be unlimited opportunities for people to get justice and there will be no crisis in justice delivery,” he said. He made these remarks as the chief guest at the inaugural ceremony of a pilot project on legal aid in Sylhet this afternoon.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the pilot project is being implemented across various districts, including Sylhet, Moulvibazar, Sunamganj, Faridpur, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Satkhira, Kushtia, Comilla, Noakhali, and Rangamati. Advocating for the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) system for expedited trial processes, Asif Nazrul highlighted that legal aid resolves disputes in a fraction of the time compared to conventional methods. Ninety percent of people are reportedly satisfied with these resolutions and often do not pursue further court cases.
The adviser noted that disputes resolved in legal aid courts take significantly less time than those in conventional courts, which can drag on for years. Previously, the state overlooked the benefits of this judicial process, which offers a quicker, more cost-effective solution, reducing the burden on individuals. Nazrul pointed out that legal aid courts require far less financial investment compared to conventional courts, assuring justice at a lower cost.
He further elaborated on the government’s decision to mandate the filing of cases through legal aid to reduce case backlogs. Changes to the Legal Aid Act now require cases under 11 specific laws, including family disputes and property division, to first be addressed in legal aid courts. This move is intended to streamline the judicial process and reduce congestion in traditional courts.
Remarkably, the number of judges per district has been increased to three, enhancing judicial capacity. This includes senior assistant judges, senior judges, and retired district magistrates, which will help decrease the backlog of cases, providing greater protection of justice and rights for vulnerable populations.
In addition to legal aid efforts, Asif Nazrul revealed comprehensive measures such as separating civil and criminal courts and transferring the authority to create judicial posts from political ministers to the Chief Justice’s Office. The swift creation of 215 judge posts and the enactment of ordinances like the Digital Security Act and Women and Children Repression Prevention Court ordinance are unprecedented achievements in Bangladesh’s legal history.