Bangladesh launches digital reforms to expand legal aid access
New system introduces online mediation, digital case management, and enforceable settlements to reduce backlogs and costs
DHAKA, Bangladesh (MNTV) — Bangladesh has introduced sweeping reforms to its legal aid system aimed at making justice faster, cheaper, and more accessible, with a new digital framework expected to transform how citizens resolve disputes.
The reforms, anchored in the 2025 amendment to the Legal Aid Act, prioritize mediation over litigation by making pre-case settlements mandatory and legally enforceable. Officials say the changes are designed to reduce lengthy court battles, cut costs, and prevent citizens from facing trial without representation.
The National Legal Aid Services Organisation (NLASO), in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme and backed by the European Union, is rolling out a Digital Legal Aid Project to put these amendments into practice.
The initiative integrates online case management, virtual mediation platforms, and remote legal services to reach underserved communities.
Chief Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed described the changes as a “seismic shift” in justice delivery, stressing that legal aid must evolve from being reactive to preemptive. Legal scholars argue the new framework could reshape how justice is accessed in a country where court backlogs and high litigation costs have long limited equal protection under the law.
The reforms also build on lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic, when virtual hearings and helplines became critical for continuity of legal services.
Officials say the expansion of digital tools will help sustain such mechanisms while introducing new avenues like online dispute resolution to ease case congestion.
While Bangladesh has provided free legal aid through district committees for years, only a fraction of citizens in need have benefited. Advocates say the integration of technology offers a chance to bridge the gap between legal entitlements and actual access, particularly for women, low-income groups, and rural populations.
Analysts note that success will depend not only on infrastructure and training but also on public trust in digital justice.
For now, the reforms represent Bangladesh’s most ambitious attempt yet to align its justice system with global trends of digitalisation and people-centered dispute resolution.
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