Bangladesh is advancing toward a more inclusive justice system by integrating digital solutions to better serve marginalized communities. With support from the European Union, the National Legal Aid Services Organization and UNDP Bangladesh are implementing a pilot initiative to introduce digital legal aid services across eight districts. The effort aims to simplify access to justice, reduce long-standing case backlogs, and strengthen public confidence in legal institutions, aligning with broader national justice reforms focused on efficiency and accessibility.
A key milestone in this process was a two-day co-design workshop held on 24 and 25 January, which brought together policymakers, judicial officials, legal aid officers, lawyers, and development partners. The workshop provided a collaborative platform to shape a next-generation digital legal aid system centered on people’s needs. Discussions focused on streamlining application procedures, introducing digital case-tracking, enabling online mediation, and improving transparency in service delivery.
Speakers at the opening session emphasized the value of incorporating district-level experience into national digital systems and adopting a bottom-up approach to reform. The discussions highlighted that digital legal aid is not solely about technology but about improving public service delivery by reaching more people, managing cases effectively, and demonstrating measurable results. The importance of modernizing legal aid services and leveraging tools such as Online Dispute Resolution to reduce reliance on in-person processes was also underscored.
The workshop is expected to result in clearly defined functional requirements, validated digital workflows, and stronger stakeholder commitment. These outcomes will lay the groundwork for Bangladesh’s future Digital Legal Aid System, ensuring justice services are more accessible, efficient, and transparent. Combined with reforms such as pre-case mediation, the initiative aims to better respond to the needs of court users and help rebuild trust in the country’s justice system.
