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Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today reiterated that establishing the rule of law, justice and good governance in the country is the main objective of the current BNP-led government.
“We do not want to see citizens going from door to door of courts and suffering harassment. Ending the people’s longstanding sufferings and ensuring justice and the rule of law are our government’s main commitments,” the law minister said.
The minister was speaking as the chief guest at the virtual inauguration ceremony of the fourth-phase rollout of the digital ‘e-Bail Bond’ system in 12 more districts, at the conference room of the Law Ministry this morning.
The law minister said previously a bail bond had to go through 12 complicated steps to reach the jail from the court before an accused could be released. Now, lawyers can submit bail bonds with a single click on their smart phones, from their chambers or any other location.
Highlighting the benefits of a technology-friendly justice system, Md Asaduzzaman said the initiative was first piloted in Narayanganj during the interim government’s tenure and was subsequently implemented successfully in different districts, including Bogura.
He said after the system was introduced in 16 districts in three phases, a total of 120,000 e-bail bonds have already been successfully processed through the system.
“The addition of 12 more districts will make the judicial process easier and faster,” he said.
The government today launched the system in Tangail, Kishoreganj, Munshiganj, Cox’s Bazar, Chandpur, Rangamati, Sirajganj, Bagerhat, Patuakhali, Habiganj, Thakurgaon and Jamalpur in the 4th phase.
With the latest expansion, the e-Bail Bond system has now been introduced in 28 districts. Preparations are underway to gradually introduce the system in the remaining districts, the minister added.
He said the initiative would significantly reduce the sufferings of justice seekers, particularly accused persons. “We hope to take this programme to the doorsteps of the people,” he said.
Urging judges and leaders of the bar to take initiatives to reduce case backlogs, Md Asaduzzaman said, “Compromisable cases involving people in jail should be settled quickly through mediation under legal aid. If a small case remains pending for years, it costs the government a huge amount of money, while accused persons in serious crimes sometimes manage to escape punishment.”
Announcing a new government plan to reduce the number of cases, the law minister said the Law Ministry would give special awards to districts that reduce their case backlogs the most through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) and other effective measures within the next year.
Presided over by Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquet Ali Molla, the function was also addressed by Additional Secretary Md Khadem Ul Kayes.
Patuakhali Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Shahidullah, Cox’s Bazar Chief Judicial Magistrate Mohammad Shafiul Azam, President of Chandpur District Bar Association Md Shamsul Islam and Superintendent of Thakurgaon Jail Md Masudur Rahman joined the event virtually and spoke about the e-Bail Bond initiative.
https://thedailyexpress.news/news/national/1f196ed7-ef61-6cb0-ab7f-7641b6ad239e