Virtual courts in Dhaka start proceedings through video conferencing

The Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge's Court today started its virtual court proceedings through videoconferencing, amid the nationwide shutdown induced by the coronavirus pandemic.

An official of the court told The Daily Star that they have issued a notice in this regard and passed it to the Dhaka Bar Association along with the directives of the Supreme Court mentioned for virtual courts.

The court asked for applications from lawyers so that the virtual hearings can be prioritised case by case, with the hearing of bail petitions of those accused -- who are now in jail -- taking top priority.

The court will hear the petitions that remained pending at the court from March 29. The official closure of the courts in the nationwide shutdown is scheduled to stay till May 16.

Over 900 bail petitions are pending at the court at present.

Contacted, Dhaka Bar Association President Iqbal Hossain said that he has received the notice and will convey the message to the lawyers in the association.

Meanwhile, Dhaka Chief Metropolitan Magistrate AM Zulfiker Hayat has formed four courts for holding hearings on bail petitions in the cases filed with 49 police stations under DMP.

The four courts are of Metropolitan Magistrates Sarafuzzaman Ansary, Sadbir Yasir Ahsan Chowdhruy, Debdash Chandra Adhikary and Rajesh Chowdhury.

Earlier, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain had issued necessary directives for the lower courts for holding hearings on bail petitions of urgent cases through using information and communication technology during the ongoing shutdown.