Mandatory mediation shows promise in reducing case backlog: Law Minister

Published : Tuesday, 21 July, 2026 at 1:05 PM

Observer Online Report

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md. Asaduzzaman on Tuesday said the mandatory pre-litigation mediation process is creating opportunities for litigants to resolve disputes quickly and easily, while showing promising results in reducing the filing of new cases.

He made the remarks while virtually inaugurating the mandatory pre-litigation mediation programme in 10 districts from the conference room of the Law Ministry.

The minister said around 4.5 million cases are currently pending across the country, putting significant pressure on the judicial system. He said resolving disputes before cases are filed would reduce the time, cost and suffering of litigants, while easing the burden on the courts.

Referring to the pilot implementation of pre-litigation mediation in 20 districts, Asaduzzaman said the number of cases filed under various laws during the same period of 2026 declined significantly compared with February-May 2025.

According to him, cases under the Family Court Act fell from 3,559 to 1,744, a decrease of about 51 percent. Cases related to partition under the jurisdiction of Civil Judge Courts dropped from 2,001 to 661, a decline of 66.97 percent.

He said pre-emption cases under the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act decreased from 17 to two, while cases under the Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act declined from 31 to 14. Cases under the Dowry Prohibition Act fell from 5,605 to 1,810, while those under the Parental Maintenance Act decreased from 43 to 35. Overall, the filing of cases dropped by an average of 62.02 percent.

The minister said if the number of cases filed in courts continues to decline in this way, the backlog of pending cases could be reduced more quickly. He also urged judges to refer pending cases that can be settled through negotiation to the District Legal Aid Office for mediation to help speed up the trial process.

He expressed hope that if the courts, District Legal Aid Offices, lawyers and all concerned work together, the number of pending cases could be significantly reduced within the next year.

The minister also said the media can play an important role in creating public awareness about mediation activities conducted through Legal Aid. He sought the media's cooperation in informing people that helpless and marginalised citizens are receiving free legal assistance and speedy justice through the government-funded programme.

Noting that more than 100,000 cases are currently pending in Cox's Bazar, Asaduzzaman urged district judges, judicial officers and other concerned parties to take initiatives to visibly reduce the backlog within the next three months. He said the progress would be reviewed on September 30.

He also acknowledged the cooperation of JICA, GIZ and UNDP in implementing the pre-litigation mediation programme and thanked the development partners for their support.

Addressing the mediators, the minister said they should treat the responsibility as a public service rather than just a job. He also reiterated the government's "zero tolerance" stance against any form of corruption in mediation activities.

He expressed hope that collective efforts would help build an effective, speedy and people-friendly justice system and that stronger implementation of the initiative would make significant progress in reducing the country's long-standing case backlog.

After his speech, the minister inaugurated the mandatory pre-litigation mediation process simultaneously in Bogra, Thakurgaon, Patuakhali, Bhola, Natore, Jessore, Shariatpur, Cox's Bazar, Panchagarh and Tangail.

Under Section 21B of the Legal Aid (Amendment) Act, 2026, mandatory pre-litigation mediation has been introduced in these districts. From now on, parties must first seek dispute resolution through mediation at the District Legal Aid Office before filing cases in court in the specified districts.