All the courts in Bangladesh are supposed to conduct virtual proceedings amid the coronavirus crisis situation, according to a decision given by Supreme Court on Sunday.
However, only a few courts including the High Court, Comilla District and Sessions Judge Court and Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court have conducted online hearings.
Lawyers and officials of many districts are opposing the idea of virtual hearings due to a lack of experience and knowledge on information technology, and therefore did not take part in any court proceedings.
No proceedings took place on Monday in Rajshahi, Pabna, Jamalpur, Barisal, and Gopalganj, reports Bangla Tribune.
The Rajshahi Bar Associsation General Secretary Parvez Toufique Jahedi said, 90% of the lawyers lack technological knowledge and are not habituated to working digitally.
They are not even aware of the procedure yet as no training has been provided, so they are disinterested to join the virtual court.
In Pabna at a meeting headed by Pabna Lawyers’ Association President Sahabuddin Shobuj, it was said that for running the court virtually, a lawyer must have internet connection, a smartphone, laptop, scanner, and uninterrupted electricity connection, which is not easily available to everyone.
Jamalpur District Judge Court judges did not to take part in any virtual hearings as per the decision taken at a meeting under the direction of District Lawyers’ Association General Secretary Shah Enayet Hossain on Tuesday.
In Barisal, lawyers protested against the virtual hearing system and demanded bringing back manual hearings.
District Lawyers’ Association General Secretary Khaiyum Khan Kawsar said, internet connection is very poor throughout Barisal and a huge portion of the lawyers are not skilled in operating social media websites and other internet based activities.
That is why they are opting not to take part in any online proceedings.
Gopalganj’s lawyers have also decided not to conduct virtual proceedings in an emergency meeting on Tuesday.
The lawyers demand running the court normally by taking necessary precautions to prevent coronavirus transmission.
In Sylhet Metropolitan Magistrate Court, Judge Ziaur Rahman held proceedings in a virtual court on Tuesday morning.
The bench’s assistant Belal Ahmed said, hearings of 15 cases took place in the virtual hearings on Tuesday.
