6 lakh pending cases to be disposed by 2022: Anisul

Law Minister Anisul Huq said more than 37 lakh cases are pending in the courts across Bangladesh which is an accumulated problem from the past years.

“A plan has been taken for disposing 6 lakh cases by 2022 to refute this knot of pending cases,” he said.

The minister said this at the inaugural function of the 42nd Special Basic Training Course for Assistant and Equivalent Judges at the Judicial Administration Training Institute in Dhaka on Sunday afternoon.

The judges will need to play the key role in implementing this plan, he said.

In an effort to reduce the number of pending cases, apart from building infrastructure 1152 judges have been appointed in the last few years and more appointments are in progress, he added. “Vacant positions are being filled immediately now,” he said.

Anisul said Covid-19 pandemic has brought rapid changes across the world and judges of Bangladesh will need to change accordingly to conduct judicial activities.

For 21 years after the 1975 tragedy a culture of injustice prevailed in the country but now Bangladesh is seeing change, said the minister.

In the past people had doubts if the accused can be brought under justice which has changed with time, he said.

This changed scenario has increased both the necessity and honour of the judges, said the minister.

After the programme Anisul told journalists there will be no mercy for the people accused of involvement in recent communal violence in the country, no matter which party they belong to, reports BSS.

“Criminal’s only identity is he is a criminal. It doesn’t matter - he is from which party, caste or religion. He will have to face justice,” the minister said.

Iterating his statement about trying the communal violence accused at speedy trial tribunal, Anisul Huq said Awami League believes in non-communal politics.

While replying a question about formulating witness protection act, the law minister said, “We have told it earlier too, we will take rapid action whenever the issue of this act will come forward.”