12 more districts get e-bail service
The government has expanded the e-bail bond system to 12 more districts, taking the total number of districts covered by the digital service to 28 in a move aimed at speeding up bail and reducing litigants’ suffering.
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman inaugurated the system in the newly included districts at a programme at the Law Ministry’s conference room at the Secretariat on Thursday.
The latest expansion marks the fourth phase of the e-bail bond rollout, following the system’s introduction in 16 districts in three phases.
The Law Ministry said the digital service had proved successful in those districts, prompting its simultaneous launch in 12 additional districts.
The government plans to gradually extend the e-bail bond system to all 64 districts across the country.
Compared with the conventional bail bond process, the digital system simplifies the submission and verification of bail documents.
The ministry expects it to reduce the difficulties faced by litigants and enable people to secure bail and release from custody more quickly.
Speaking at the inauguration, Law Minister Asaduzzaman said the e-bail bond system was first introduced in Narayanganj during the tenure of the interim government.
It was later launched in seven districts, including Bogura, after the election of the Prime Minister.
Around 120,000 bail bonds have since been submitted through the system in the 16 districts covered during the first three phases, with the process running smoothly, he said.
“Previously, 12 steps were required to process a bail bond. Now, with just one click, a lawyer can submit a bail bond while sitting in his chamber or anywhere else, even from a car, using a smartphone,” he said.
An OTP is sent immediately after a bail bond is received, allowing the sender to confirm that the document has reached the authorities, the minister said.
“This process will greatly reduce the suffering of litigants, particularly those facing imprisonment,” Asaduzzaman said.
The minister said the government wanted to establish the rule of law, ensure justice and promote good governance rather than subject people to unnecessary harassment.
“We have said that this is the good governance commitment of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party government. We do not want to harass people; we want to establish the rule of law, justice and good governance,” he said.
Law and Justice Division Secretary Liakat Ali Mollah said the e-bail bond system had already made a significant contribution to reducing difficulties faced by litigants in the 16 districts where it was previously introduced.
Judges, leaders of lawyers’ associations, government and public prosecutors, police and local administration officials, and prison authorities from the 12 newly included districts joined the inauguration programme virtually.
The e-bail bond system was initially introduced in Narayanganj and subsequently expanded in phases. The government now plans to extend the digital service nationwide, covering all 64 districts.
