The 2020 ordinance on the use of information technology by courts, was approved at the cabinet meeting with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in the chair. The meeting was held at the Prime Minister’s official residence Ganobhaban.
A small group of cabinet members attended the meeting due to coronavirus pandemic.
Cabinet Secretary Khandker Anwarul Islam said this in a televised message.
bdnews24.com adds: “It is not possible to continue the court proceedings physically everywhere because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Supreme Court sought to use information technology and continue judicial proceedings remotely,” the secretary said.
According to the existing law, the plaintiffs, defendants and their legal counsels must attend the court proceedings physically to run a trial.
Like many other countries, Bangladesh has enforced a lockdown since March 26 closing all government and private offices and banning mass gatherings.
“This causes a bottleneck of cases and deprives people of justice, as the courts are closed for a long time. The law ministry and the Supreme Court felt the need for drafting a law to run the court proceedings via videoconferencing and other digital means,” Islam said.
