Law Adviser Asif Nazrul yesterday said e-family courts will help ease suffering and curb corruption, with the government pressing ahead on judicial reforms aimed at reducing case backlogs and ensuring transparency.
"Due to the launch of e-family courts, litigants will no longer have to run around from pillar to post like before," the adviser said at the inauguration programme of the e-family court operations.
The event was held at the Jagannath-Sohel Memorial Auditorium at the Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court building in Old Dhaka. Daffodil International University collaborated in the formation of the e-family court.
Citing examples of various reform activities, Asif Nazrul said the ministry has already implemented 21 reforms. He believed that these reforms will not last unless lawyers and all relevant stakeholders are involved and continuity is maintained.
He said, "We will start and eventually hand over the e-judiciary and e-registration projects. We hope that the political parties in our country love this country more than we do."
Noting that there are some confusions regarding reforms in Bangladesh, the adviser explained that earlier, for family disputes, one had to go directly to family courts. Now, for family disputes, one has to first visit the legal aid office. "Only if they are not satisfied there, they can proceed to family court. This will reduce suffering and corruption and save time.
He stated that through law reforms, provision has been made to appoint three judges instead of one at the legal aid office.
"Now we have started this programme in 20 districts. Our dream is to launch it in 64 districts before we leave. We estimate that when the programme is fully rolled out across the country, one-fourth or even one-third of all cases will be resolved through the legal aid office. Hopefully, this will reduce the backlog of cases by at least 50 percent in the next five years," added the adviser.
To remove doubts, he said that many think technology will reduce the number of cases. "In reality, that is not the case. With the advent of technology, lawyers will be able to provide even more services."
At the event, Environment Adviser Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser Faiz Ahmad Taiyeb, Law Secretary Liaquat Ali Molla and Supreme Court Registrar General Habibur Rahman Siddiquee addressed the event, among others.