A total of 4,041,924 cases remained pending in the lower courts as of December 31, 2025, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman informed Parliament today.

He disclosed the figure while responding to a question from ruling party MP Jahandar Ali Miah during a question-answer session tabled by Deputy Speaker Kayser Kamal.

Outlining recent legal reforms, the minister said the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2026 introduces provisions for issuing summons via SMS and voice calls. It also allows petitions and written replies to be filed through affidavits and enables direct cross-examination. In addition, decrees can now be issued within the main case without the need to file a separate suit.

Addressing the backlog, Asaduzzaman said 871 new courts and 232 judicial posts have been created, with another 304 positions currently in process. Recruitment of 150 new civil judges is underway.

Through the Bangladesh Judicial Service Commission, recommendations have been made to appoint 708 staff members -- including stenographers, typists, office assistants and drivers -- to fill vacancies in subordinate courts. Recruitment of a further 553 employees is also in progress.

The minister said the government remains firmly committed to alleviating the suffering of litigants and resolving the backlog of cases.

Responding to opposition MP Shahjahan Chowdhury, he alleged that under the previous Awami League government, judicial transfers and postings were influenced by party loyalty, with compliant judges placed in key positions and independent-minded judges transferred to remote areas.

He said the current administration has decided not to follow that approach, instead prioritising integrity, competence and judicial conduct in appointments, adding that final decisions rest with the Supreme Court rather than the government alone.