From today, Thursday, 18 September, courts in 12 districts of Bangladesh will no longer accept direct filings for eight specified types of cases. Under the new regulations, initiating such cases now requires mandatory mediation through the respective district Legal Aid Office before proceeding to court.
On Wednesday, 17 September, Dr. Asif Nazrul, Advisor to the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, formally inaugurated this new procedure in Sylhet. Prior to this, the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) had issued a public notice on Tuesday, 16 September, outlining the changes.
According to the notification, the following 12 districts are now subject to mandatory pre-court mediation under the Legal Aid (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, Section 1, Subsection (2):
- Sylhet
- Moulvibazar
- Sunamganj
- Faridpur
- Mymensingh
- Rangpur
- Dinajpur
- Satkhira
- Kushtia
- Comilla
- Noakhali
- Rangamati
The amended law specifies eight types of disputes that cannot be filed directly in court:
| No. | Type of Dispute |
| 1 | Family Court Act cases |
| 2 | House Rent Control Act disputes |
| 3 | Distribution disputes in Assistant Judge Courts |
| 4 | State Acquisition and Tenancy Act (Pre-acquisition disputes) |
| 5 | Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act (Pre-acquisition disputes) |
| 6 | Maintenance obligations of parents (Parental support law) |
| 7 | Dowry Prohibition Act cases |
| 8 | Dowry-related complaints under the Prevention of Violence against Women and Children Act |
The notification clarifies that agreements reached through this mediation will be considered final and equivalent to a court decree.
A ceremony marking this new milestone in the judicial system was held Wednesday afternoon at Grand Sylhet Hotel & Resort. Addressing the event, Dr. Asif Nazrul stated:
- If future governments maintain this reform, it will increase access to justice and legal aid for underprivileged citizens.
- The authority to create judicial positions has been transferred from ministers to the Chief Justice, and civil and criminal courts have been separated.
- Mandatory mediation is seen as a remarkable step to reduce case backlogs.
Under the new system, the Legal Aid Office will be staffed by:
- One Senior Joint District and Sessions Judge
- One Retired District and Sessions Judge
Dr. Nazrul explained, “We have engaged retired judges because they are physically capable, experienced, and respected individuals, ensuring the process is fair and effective.”
This law represents a significant shift in the judicial landscape, promoting pre-court dispute resolution, reducing court congestion, and enhancing access to justice for citizens across the 12 districts.
