United News of Bangladesh

Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Monday said access to justice is a constitutional right of every citizen and not a matter of charity or mercy, stressing that his government envisions a Bangladesh where all are equal before an independent and impartial judiciary. “We want to build a Bangladesh where there is no difference between the Prime Minister, ministers, police officers, public officials and ordinary citizens in the justice system. The judiciary will be fully independent and a strong pillar of justice,” he said while inaugurating the e-bail bond system at the Bogura District Court and six other district courts. He said the e-bail bond system would be a milestone in ensuring access to justice. “We believe in access to justice for all. Today’s digital initiative is a major breakthrough in ensuring that right,” Tarique said. Under the new system, he said a judge will verify bail orders and send them directly online to the prison authorities, enabling the immediate release of the person concerned once the order is received. “As a result, the e-bail bond or electronic bail system will put an end to unnecessary harassment and suffering in the judicial process,” Tarique said. He said the government also plans to integrate the e-bail system with Crime Data Management System (CDMS), court case management systems, and national ID verification, aiming to bring the entire process under a computerised system to modernise the judiciary and reduce public suffering. The Prime Minister alleged that in the past, thousands of people from opposition parties or with differing opinions were harassed through ghost and fake cases, false warrants, and delays in warrant withdrawal. He said the government will implement online systems for production warrants, release orders, and warrant recalls from police stations. If this is done, bail hearings will become easier when an accused arrested in one district is transferred to another through the rapid online transmission of documents, he said. Tarique said this would help eliminate the culture of police harassment and unlawful detention of general people through fake warrants. He also said that during previous authoritarian rule, the judiciary was turned into a partisan institution where justice was absent. The Prime Minister said in August 2024, freedom-loving people were liberated from that dark rule and the current government is committed to establishing justice and ensuring citizens’ right to justice. “Courts should not be places of harassment but safe spaces for justice,” he said adding that restoring public trust in the judiciary would also help reduce mob violence. Tarique said his government is working to establish a corruption-free, transparent, and independent judiciary. As part of this effort, he said the e-bail bond system has been introduced in seven districts: Bogura, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Magura, Rajshahi, Natore, and Kushtia. The Prime Minister expressed hope that nationwide implementation would reduce delays and inequality in justice delivery. “Delay in justice is equivalent to denial of justice.” He called upon the judiciary, prison authorities, and relevant institutions to work sincerely to advance the system. Tarique also shared his personal experience from his 18-month imprisonment during the one-eleven period. He said that around 30 per cent of prison inmates are poor people who often do not even understand why they are in jail. Many remain imprisoned simply because they cannot afford a good lawyer. He urged the Law Minister to find ways to address this issue and ensure legal aid for those who cannot afford proper legal representation, so that innocent or poor detainees can be freed from unjust imprisonment. Later, the Prime Minister inaugurated the e-bail bond system by pressing a button on a computer.