Court infrastructure, manpower shortages slow justice in Lalmonirhat

A prolonged shortage of judges and the absence of a dedicated Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) Court building are hampering the judicial process in Lalmonirhat, mounting delays in case disposal and increasing the suffering of litigants.
According to court sources, 31,649 criminal and civil cases were pending in the district's courts as of June 2026. Of these, 11,547 cases are pending in the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court.
Although Lalmonirhat has a District Judge's Court building, the district still lacks a separate building for the Chief Judicial Magistrate Court. Proceedings are currently conducted in inadequate and congested facilities.
The CJM Court has nine judges’ posts, but six judicial posts remain vacant, including those of Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate-1, Senior Judicial Magistrate-2 and Judicial Magistrate-3. Lawyers said the shortage has significantly slowed hearings and case disposal, forcing litigants to return repeatedly with new hearing dates.
Nur Hossain, a litigant from Chandrapur union in Kaliganj upazila, said he has to travel long distances for hearings in a land dispute, but the case remains unresolved due to the shortage of judges.
litigant, Adam Ali of Burimari union in Patgram upazila, said he travels about 95 kilometres to attend court, often leaving home early by train. "When hearings are postponed because of the judge shortage, both our time and money are wasted. If a hearing is deferred, we sometimes have to wait several months for the next date," he said.
Advocate Hafizur Rahman, a member of the Lalmonirhat District Bar Association, said the lack of a dedicated CJM Court building has created serious operational difficulties. 
He said courtrooms remain overcrowded, there is inadequate seating arrangements for lawyers and litigants, and accused persons are often kept together in cramped spaces. Women also lack proper seating and essential facilities such as safe waiting areas, restrooms, prayer spaces and breastfeeding rooms.
Advocate Saikat Ahmed said, besides the judge shortage, the absence of a modern and independent CJM Court building is affecting the efficiency of judicial proceedings.
General Secretary of the Lalmonirhat District Bar Association Advocate Rafiqul Islam said while the district's population and the number of cases have increased over the years, judicial manpower and infrastructure have not kept pace, placing excessive pressure on existing judges and contributing to a growing backlog.
Amirul Hayat Mukul, president of the Lalmonirhat district unit of Citizens for Good Governance (SHUJAN), urged the authorities to address the manpower shortage and improve court infrastructure to ensure faster and more effective delivery of justice.