Coronavirus crisis: bill placed in parliament to empower virtual court proceedings

A bill titled Adalat Kartik Tathiya Projukti Bebohar (Use of Information Technology by Court- Bill 2020) was placed in the national parliament today to empower the country's courts to run trial proceedings through video conferences and other digital means using information technology.

Fisheries and Livestock Minister SM Rezaul Karim, in absence of Law Minister Anisul Huq, placed the bill in the parliament.

It was sent to the parliamentary standing committee of the concerned ministry for scrutiny. They have been asked to place their report before the House within seven working days.

This law was already promulgated by President Abdul Hamid as ordinance because the parliament was not in session during the time. It was brought about to reduce the pile-up of cases during the countrywide closure enforced to contain the spread of Covid-19.

The ordinance was approved by the cabinet on May 7. The closure was enforced from late March.

According to the previous law, the trial proceedings are run in the physical presence of judges, counsels and witnesses in the court. With this ordinance, it became possible to run the proceedings during the coronavirus outbreak when physical distancing is mandatory.

It is possible for judges to run the trial proceedings of the cases through video conferences and other digital means with the accused in jail, the lawyers in their residence and the witnesses in other places during the coronavirus crisis.