60,000 cases pending in Ctg courts

Compared to this, number of cases under Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal is very small. The government is planning to shift the sensational cases to the Speedy Trial Tribunal in greater number to ease pressures on other courts, sources said.

The number of under-trial and pending cases in other courts is increasing day by day due to shortage of judges and magistrates. Besides, new cases are added there everyday, sources said.

At present, the District and Sessions Judge's courts are under pressure with around 30,000 cases followed by the Chief Metropolitan Magistrate's courts with 24,830 and Metropolitan Session's Judges courts with around 5,000.

Shortage of magistrates hampers trial, with new cases being added everyday in the CMM's Court.

A total of 24,830 cases remained pending in the CMM's court after disposal of 3781 in June, CMM's court sources said.

Of these pending cases, over 10,000 remained unsettled for nearly two decades while their immediate disposal also appeared bleak, sources added.

As such, after decade-long wait, many appellants now feel exhausted and reluctant to continue the cases for, what they said, indefinite period.

Immediate disposal of these cases to ease congestion at CMM's court appeared impossible as all trials are conducted only by six magistrates including the CMM and the Additional CMM, official sources said.

At least 11 magistrates are needed to run such a huge court of the second largest city of the country smoothly, they added.

The situation at the CMM's court further deteriorated following transfer of the Additional CMM and a magistrate. Two of the six posts of magistrates are now lying vacant.

Additional CMM Mohammad Ziaul Islam was transferred as Chief Metropolitan Magistrate to Khulna on April 17 while magistrate Mohammad Atahar Ali on May 17 as Upazila Nirbahi Officer of Trishal in Mymensingh.

The courts under District and Sessions Judge's and Metropolitan Session's Judges also have the same experience with huge burden of cases and the number of judges is inadequate to deal with them.

On the other hand, according to the latest Gazette, the Divisional Speedy Trial Tribunal, Chittagong had 34 cases to deal with since its inception last year.

Of the cases, 16 were disposed of. The rest 18 cases are on trial.

Twenty-six people were convicted and awarded different terms of punishment in 14 cases while accused in two cases were acquitted of charges.

Nazirhat College principal Gopal Krishna Muhuri murder case was one of the most sensational cases in which four were awarded death penalty and four life-term.

So far, two cases were returned from the tribunal while trials of two others were postponed, sources said.

Concerned circles said transfer of sensational cases to the divisional speedy trial tribunal from crime-prone upazilas of Fatikchhari, Raozan, Satkania and Rangunia can help check crimes in the district.