Dhaka: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman announced today that the government is prioritizing alternative dispute resolution (ADR) to alleviate the extensive backlog of cases in the judiciary, aiming to expedite justice for citizens. "Government's various initiatives and the effective use of ADR have resulted in a more than 62 per cent decline in the filing of cases under certain laws during the current period of 2026 compared with 2025," he stated.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister made these remarks while serving as the chief guest at the signing ceremony of two memoranda of understanding (MoUs). These MoUs were executed between the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid, the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), and BRAC's Social Empowerment and Legal Protection (SELP) at the ministry earlier today. Asaduzzaman highlighted the current burden on the judicial system, with nearly 4.5 million cases pending nationwide, and stressed the government's ongoing efforts to reduce this backlog.
The minister traced the origins of the government's legal aid program to an administrative order issued in 1994 during Begum Khaleda Zia's tenure, which was later formalized into law in 2001. He emphasized that significant updates have been made to modernize the law, ensuring it meets contemporary needs. The recent MoUs are part of the Legal Aid Services (Amendment) Act, 2026, which introduces the development of professional mediators and provides for their training and legal recognition.
Under the first MoU, the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid (DBLA) and BLAST will jointly recruit and deploy three court paralegals in Dhaka, Gazipur, and Chattogram. These paralegals will offer essential legal information at labour law support cells but will follow the "Do No Harm" principle, refraining from providing direct legal advice. Successful mediation in compoundable disputes by BLAST will receive official legal recognition from DBLA, while unsuccessful attempts will result in a certificate that allows the dispute to proceed to court.
The second MoU involves BRAC organizing six regional training programs for professional mediators, funded internally, with certification provided by the DBLA. Documents prepared by BRAC-certified mediators will gain legal validity after verification by the Chief Legal Aid Officer (CLAO). Should a respondent fail to appear or mediation not resolve the issue, the legal aid office will issue a report permitting the dispute to advance to court.
Asaduzzaman affirmed that collaboration between the government's legal aid system and leading NGOs like BLAST and BRAC would be transformative in providing prompt legal services to marginalized communities and workers. He also acknowledged the support of international partners, including the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), the German international cooperation agency GIZ, and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), in strengthening ADR mechanisms.
The MoU signing ceremony was attended by notable figures such as Additional Secretaries of the Law and Justice Division Md Khadem Ul Qayes and SM Ershadul Alam, Director General of the DBLA Md Monjurul Hossain, BLAST Executive Director Barrister Sara Hossain, and BRAC SELP Programme Associate Director Shashwata Biplob.