Bangladesh Judicial System

District and Sessions Courts: Each of Bangladesh's 64 districts has a District Judge who presides over civil matters and acts as Sessions Judge for criminal cases. The District Judge is the highest judicial officer at the district level. Sessions Courts try the most serious criminal offences including murder, dacoity, and other offences punishable with death or life imprisonment.

Metropolitan Magistrate Courts: Operating in metropolitan areas (Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Khulna, Sylhet, Barishal, Rangpur, and Mymensingh), these courts handle criminal cases within city jurisdictions. Metropolitan Magistrates are appointed from the judicial service and exercise powers specified under the Code of Criminal Procedure 1898.

Judicial Magistrate Courts: Outside metropolitan areas, Judicial Magistrates exercise criminal jurisdiction at the sub-district level. They are classified into First Class and Second Class, with varying sentencing powers. First Class Magistrates can impose imprisonment up to five years and fines, while Second Class Magistrates have more limited sentencing authority.

Judicial Reform Commission: The Yunus interim government established a Judicial Reform Commission tasked with recommending structural changes to improve judicial efficiency, reduce case backlogs, and strengthen the independence of the judiciary. The Commission has examined issues including court infrastructure, judicial training, case management technology, and the separation of the judiciary from the executive.

Judicial Appointments Commission proposal: Among the most significant proposals is the creation of an independent Judicial Appointments Commission (JAC) to oversee the selection and appointment of judges. This would replace the current system where appointments are made primarily through executive discretion, with the aim of depoliticising the appointment process and ensuring merit-based selection.

Supreme Court Secretariat Ordinance 2025: This ordinance creates an independent secretariat for the Supreme Court, separating its administrative functions from the Ministry of Law. This is a practical step toward the long-standing constitutional mandate under Article 22, which directs the state to ensure the separation of the judiciary from the executive.

Bangladesh Bar Council: The Bar Council regulates the legal profession, maintaining standards of legal education and professional conduct. Elections for the Bar Council are scheduled for May 2026, an important development for the profession after a period of political disruption.