Appellate Division will hold virtual hearings five days a week

The Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, has decided to hold virtual judicial hearings five days a week from next Sunday (July 19), until further notice.

The decision was announced in a circular signed by Supreme Court Appellate Division Registrar Md Badrul Alam Bhuiyan on Tuesday.

A statement from the Prime Minister's Office said, "The Chief Justice of Bangladesh has approved conducting judicial work through the virtual courts using information technology and without any physical presence to prevent the spread of coronavirus across the country."

"The hearings will be held from 10 am to 1:15 pm on Sunday to Thursday from July 19 until further orders in the virtual court of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, and the regular routine of the Supreme Court will be maintained on those days," read the circular.

Earlier, a circular from the Supreme Court on July 12 said that the Virtual Appellate Division will meet on Mondays and Thursdays every week.

However, while handling a case of the Appellate Division on July 13, the Chief Justice said that if the virtual justice system plays an effective role during the virus outbreak, the Appellate Division would function five days a week. The Supreme Court administration issued a circular on Tuesday, based on this.