Village Court (amendment) Bill passed in parliament

The Village Court (amendment) Act, 2024 was passed unanimously in the Jatiya Sangsad on Tuesday with an amendment enhancing the authority of village courts to fine Tk 3,00,000, raising the amount from the existing Tk 75,000.

Local Government, Rural Development, and Cooperatives Minister M Tajul Islam moved the bill in the House, which was passed by voice vote with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the chair.

After placing the bill, the minister said the government is set to enhance the authority of village courts, enabling them to raise fines from Tk 75,000 to Tk 3,00,000. The bill will be enacted after bringing an amendment to the Village Court Act, 2006.

He said a village court comprises five members, including the union parishad chairman. In some cases, the court cannot function if any member remains absent. In this situation, the absent member would get seven days to be present at the meeting. If the member cannot be present, then the chairman has the power to give one additional vote, he said.

In 2013, by amending the Village Court Act, the government increased the power of this court to impose fines from Tk25,000 to Tk75,000.