ADR can cut pending cases to around 2 million within next year: Asaduzzaman

Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman today said effective implementation of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) could reduce the number of pending cases in the country to around two million within the next year.

"Mandatory pre-filing mediation must be expanded to reduce the prolonged backlog of pending cases in the country and ensure speedy and accessible justice for the people," he said while inaugurating, virtually, the mandatory pre-filing mediation programme in 10 districts from the ministry’s conference room.
 
The minister further said around 4.5 million cases are currently pending across the country against a backdrop of an inadequate number of judges. The enormous caseload has placed a heavy burden on the entire judiciary, from the Supreme Court to district and subordinate courts, he added.
 
"Therefore, alongside the conventional judicial system, strengthening the Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanism has become the need of the hour," he said.
 
Hailing the highly encouraging results of the pilot programme conducted between February and May 2026, the law minister said the number of cases filed under the Family Courts Act fell from 3,559 during the corresponding period in 2025 to 1,744 in the same period of 2026, marking a decline of about 51 per cent.
 
Similarly, cases filed under the House Rent Control Act decreased from 24 to 18, while partition suits falling under the jurisdiction of Civil Judge Courts dropped from 2,001 to 661, representing a reduction of around 67 per cent.
 
“Pre-emption cases under the State Acquisition and Tenancy Act also fell sharply from 17 to just two, registering an 88.24 per cent decline," he said highlighting a significant decline in cases filed under the Non-Agricultural Tenancy Act.

In comparison, cases under the Parents‍‍` Maintenance Act fell by nearly 19 per cent.
 
"A significant improvement has also been recorded in cases filed under the Dowry Prohibition Act. While 5,605 cases were filed between February and May 2025, the number fell to 1,810 during the corresponding period in 2026—a decline of 67.71 per cent. This is a strong indication of the effectiveness of the mandatory pre-filing mediation programme," the minister said.
 
"On average, cases filed under various laws have declined by 62.2 per cent. This is highly encouraging for the judiciary. If this trend continues and the programme is implemented more extensively, it will be possible to substantially reduce the large number of new cases being filed in courts every day," he stated.
 
Addressing judges, the minister urged them to refer cases that have the potential for amicable settlement at an early stage to district legal aid offices or accredited mediators.
 
"Even after a case is filed in court, if the dispute can be resolved through mediation, it will significantly reduce the time, cost and hardship for litigants. We believe that if disputes are resolved before cases are filed and effective mediation is also carried out in pending cases, it will be possible to reduce the current caseload of around 4.5 million pending cases to about two million within the next year," he said.
 
The minister said prolonged litigation has caused ordinary people to suffer not only mentally but also financially, stressing that ensuring justice through the speedy resolution of disputes is one of the state‍‍`s foremost responsibilities.
 
Chaired by Director General of the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid Md Monjurul Hossain. The program was also addressed by Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquet Ali Molla as a special guest.
 
Joining virtually, Jessore District and Sessions Judge Mahmudah Khatun, Chief Judicial Magistrate of Cox‍‍`s Bazar Abu Saleh Mohammad Noman, District Legal Aid Officer Abhijit Chowdhury, and President of the Cox‍‍`s Bazar District Bar Association Adv. Mohammad Abdul Mannan also spoke on the occasion.