From now on, summons can be issued through telephone calls, SMS, or other modern communication tools, announced Syeda Rizwana Hasan, Adviser to the Ministry of Environment, Forest, and Climate Change.
Speaking at a press briefing held at the Foreign Service Academy in Dhaka's Bailey Road on Thursday, the adviser said that the judicial process in Bangladesh remains outdated in many ways. To modernise it, summons will be delivered through digital means such as SMS, phone calls, and messaging apps. In legal cases, information can also be sent to the accused via email or WhatsApp.
She noted that the Judicial Reform Commission had proposed updates to the Civil Procedure Code (CPC), originally drafted during British colonial rule. Based on those recommendations, several amendments to the CPC have now been approved in principle.
Rizwana Hasan also highlighted the need to speed up legal proceedings. "In Bangladesh, there's a common saying—if you want to cause trouble for someone, file a land case against them; it won't be resolved even in three generations. These reforms aim to resolve cases within a single generation, saving time and money for justice seekers."
Additionally, she pointed out that previously, after a case verdict, a separate execution suit had to be filed to enforce the judgment. Under the new changes, execution provisions will be included within the judgment itself.
