For Saidul Islam, the nearly 380-kilometre distance between Narayanganj and Nilphamari did not mean days of waiting behind bars after he secured bail.
The 30-year-old, arrested by Nilphamari district police in a drug case filed with Fatullah Police Station, was in Nilphamari District Jail when a magistrate’s court in Narayanganj granted him bail on August 10.
His lawyer submitted the bail bond online at 12:30pm. Within three hours, the documents reached the Narayanganj District Jail server and were forwarded electronically to Nilphamari District Jail.
Saidul was released on the morning of August 12.
Under the previous system, it could take five to seven days for bail documents to reach a jail in another district and for an accused to be released, as court staff had to physically carry them, said defence lawyer Adnan Molla.
“My client, Saidul, was released from a jail in a distant district within 48 hours of securing bail from a court in another district, solely because of the e-bail bond facility,” he said.
Saidul’s case illustrates the central promise of the e-bail bond system: shortening the time between a court granting bail and an accused walking out of jail.
But lawyers say technical glitches, data-entry errors and a lack of digital literacy are creating new hurdles.
According to law ministry officials, the system was first introduced in Narayanganj on October 15 last year to simplify and digitise the bail process. It is now operational in 28 districts, with plans to extend it to seven more by the end of September.
The districts include Manikganj, Bogura, Jashore, Rajshahi, Natore, Kushtia, Kishoreganj, Bagerhat and Thakurgaon.
The ministry hopes to bring all districts under the system by December 31.
Humayun Kabir, president of the Narayanganj District Bar Association, said, “Not all lawyers are proficient in using the internet on mobile phones. Besides, the judge first verifies the bail bond and then sends it to the jail. If there is any mistake or error in the process, the same procedure has to be repeated, which creates complications.”
Adnan, who received training before the system was introduced, said even experienced users sometimes face difficulties.
“Accessing the website through the link often becomes difficult. The OTP message also does not always arrive. We have to try repeatedly,” he said.
Data-entry errors can also delay release.
Rubel Mia, a law graduate working as a junior under Humayun, recalled an incident around three months ago in which an accused remained in jail for two additional days because of a discrepancy in his personal information.
The man was granted bail by a magistrate’s court on a Thursday, but his name in the first information report did not match the name on his National Identity Card.
The documents were returned for correction. By the time the discrepancy was communicated, it was already afternoon.
Although the information was resubmitted, the accused could not be released until Sunday.
Advocate Jahangir Alam said the online system had nevertheless made the process easier for lawyers and litigants.
Mahmuda Khatun, administrative officer at the District and Sessions Judge’s Court, said court staff no longer needed to travel to jails with bail documents.
Abdul Quddus, superintendent of Narayanganj District Jail, said the electronic process had improved transparency between the granting of bail and an accused’s release.
Md Khadem Ul Kayes, additional secretary of the law ministry, said steps were being taken to address difficulties reported by users.
“A designated official will be appointed in each relevant district to address technical issues and assist elderly lawyers who are not familiar with technology,” he said.
“There is no separate manpower for this system; ministry officials are handling the work themselves. We hope to extend the system to all districts by December 31,” he added.
