As Bangladesh’s interim government works towards judicial reform, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) is providing significant support for the digitalization of the nation’s judiciary, aiming to foster its full independence and improve efficiency.
Through expert assessments and technical advice, the UNDP is assisting the judiciary in adopting modern digital systems for case management, court proceedings, and public services. Stefan Liller, Resident Representative of UNDP Bangladesh, highlighted the benefits, stating, “This not only enhances efficiency but also reduces opportunities for corruption and external influence, thereby reinforcing judicial autonomy.”
Emphasizing national leadership in the justice reform process, Liller added that the UNDP is helping to build sustainable in-house capacity within the judiciary. This approach, he noted, promotes ownership and internal resilience, empowering the judiciary to independently drive and manage reform processes over the long term.
The UNDP is also actively supporting the Supreme Court in establishing a hotline for court users, enabling them to report instances of abuse of office, including those that violate judicial independence.
To tackle the substantial case backlogs, which stood at 45,16,603 total pending cases by December 2024 (including 31,606 in the Appellate Division, 5,89,651 in the High Court, and 38,95,832 in lower courts), UNDP officials confirmed that they are collaborating with court officials and experts to modernize and streamline case processing. This includes reviewing procedural bottlenecks, redesigning workflow systems, and introducing faster adjudication mechanisms, with a strong focus on the digitalization of the courts.
Furthermore, through outreach and awareness efforts, the UNDP is supporting mechanisms such as mediation and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR). These initiatives aim to divert minor and civil disputes away from formal court processes, thereby reducing pressure on the judiciary. The digitalization of legal aid services, facilitated by an EU-supported project, is another mechanism designed to reduce case backlogs in both legal aid offices and courtrooms.
Responding to a strong public demand for justice reforms, Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed launched a visionary reform roadmap for the judiciary on September 21, 2024. This roadmap is specifically aimed at boosting judicial independence and efficiency. The UNDP, in collaboration with Sweden, has become the Supreme Court’s main partner in supporting the implementation of this roadmap. As part of this effort, they have supported the rollout of an in-depth, country-wide dialogue series with judges in Dhaka, Mymensingh, Chattogram, Khulna, Rajshahi, Sylhet, Barishal, and Rangpur, focusing on judicial independence, integrity, and accountability.
The workshop series, led by the Chief Justice himself, sought to transform justice delivery, gauge broad support for the roadmap, and deepen judges’ understanding of judicial independence. The UNDP has also bolstered the Supreme Court’s outreach capacity by seconding a communications specialist and organizing a workshop series with law reporters and the Supreme Court to enhance journalists’ knowledge of justice reforms.
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