The Legal Aid (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 came into effect on July 1. Under this amendment, the interim government has made arbitration (mediation) mandatory for resolving disputes under five civil and four criminal laws—nine in total. As a result, no case under these laws can be filed directly in court; instead, the parties must first approach the local Legal Aid Office for mediation.
Previously, cases of abuse related to dowry were adjudicated in the Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal. However, through the promulgation of the Women and Children Repression Prevention (Amendment) Ordinance on 25 March, the jurisdiction was transferred to the Magistrate Court. Now, even that has been changed to allow for resolution through arbitration or mediation.
Nine years have passed since the shocking Holey Artisan Bakery attack, but the final trial in the case remains pending. Appeals, jail appeals, and the death reference verdict issued by the High Court are currently awaiting hearings at the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court. Although the case appeared on the cause list several times in January this year, it has not reappeared since February. Even the state prosecution cannot say for certain when the hearing will begin.
Enforced disappearances remain one of the most serious human rights violations in Bangladesh. Victims and their families endure unimaginable suffering, and over the past few decades, a culture of enforced disappearance has instilled deep fear among the public. In response, the current interim government is set to enact a law specifically addressing enforced disappearances, under which a dedicated commission will also be formed. The draft of the law has already been prepared by the Ministry of Law, and with assistance from the United Nations, both the law and the commission are expected to be in place by July.
A new deadly form of pollution has emerged in the country named ‘PFAS’. This dangerous pollution is created by compounds formed from fluorine and carbon emitted by various factories. Several surveys have reported that PFAS has spread alarmingly in areas like Dhaka, Gazipur, Narayanganj, and Narsingdi. Gradually, it may spread to even wider areas. Researchers warn that if this deadly pollution is not stopped quickly, people will face serious health risks including cancer, skin diseases, liver cirrhosis, heart disease, and thyroid problems.
The formation of the "Monitoring Committee for Subordinate Courts" has been finalized to oversee the functioning of all trial courts across the eight divisions of the country. Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refaat Ahmed has approved the structure of these committees, which have been constituted under The Supreme Court of Bangladesh (High Court Division Rules), 1973. According to sources, these committees are set to begin operations from July 1.