Khulna Divisional Labour Court has not held any sessions for the last five months as no judge was appointed since the last one was transferred.
A total of 865 cases remain pending at the court, putting the plaintiffs in a quandary.
Judge of the court Md Mosharraf Hossain was transferred to Pirojpur District and Sessions Judge Court on April 18. At the time, the court was conducting trials in 750 cases. Another 115 cases were filed in five months.
Of the 865 cases, 227 are criminal cases and 638 were filed in connection with labour issues. Besides, more than 200 ban petitions await hearing and more than a hundred arrest warrants in criminals cases have been issued, with further proceedings stalled.
The accused in criminal cases are unable to secure bail because of absence of the judge. The arrestees also have no other courts to submit bail petitions and have found them in a predicament.
Lawyer Mofakkar Hossain Moni said the labour court conducts trials of cases filed over a range of issues, including jobs of labours, trade union registration, manpower export and immigration.
Pallabesh Kumar Kundu, registrar of the court, said a total of 16 districts in Barisal and Khulna divisions are under the jurisdiction of the labour court but the plaintiffs coming from distant areas have been suffering because there is no judge to hear cases or conduct trials.
Another lawyer of the court Md Rafiqul Islam said a judge should be appointed in no time in order to mitigate suffering of the people.
Other lawyers of the court also called for rapid appointment of a judge.
