The Local Government Reform Commission has recommended establishing two fully-fledged civil and magistrate courts in every upazila across the country, except for the Chittagong Hill Tracts, within two years.
The Local Government Reform Commission has made these recommendations in its report, which will be submitted to Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Wednesday, said Chief Adviser’s Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder.
Additionally, it has suggested setting up an office for "Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR)" with the status of a senior assistant judge court in every upazila.
The commission has also proposed abolishing the "village court" of union parishads and formally recognizing the arbitration system at the ward level.
It emphasized the need to ensure the jurisdiction of ADR courts and to provide administrative support for overseeing arbitrations and appeal hearings.
Furthermore, the commission recommended the establishment of infrastructure to accommodate three ADR offices in every district of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, ensuring a connection between ADR magistrates and the headmen-karbari as well as village/ward-level arbitration.
It highlighted the necessity of monitoring ADR magistrates' arbitration proceedings in upazilas where ethnic minorities of the plains reside, extending this oversight to the broader ethnic community.
The commission suggested that upazila courts, rather than district courts, should serve as lower (subordinate) courts, while district courts should function as intermediate courts, with district judges acting as supervisors of both district and upazila courts.
Finally, it recommended that the National Bar Council take steps to establish bar associations at the upazila level and formally acknowledge upazila bar associations.