SOHRAB HOSSAIN, Patuakhali

Ketab Ali Howlader, 72, a day-labourer from Sreerampur union in Patuakhali’s Dumki upazila, found himself in a legal battle when his niece Helena Begum who forcibly occupied seven decimals of his land and built three tin-shed houses on it.

Despite intervention from local influentials, when Helena refused to vacate the land, Ketab filed a civil case with Sreerampur Union Village Court, paying a fee of Tk 20 in May last year.

Following village court procedures, a panel comprising the union parishad chairman and two representatives from each party, ruled in favour of Ketab Ali in July 2024, ordering Helena to return the occupied land and remove the illegal structures. Subsequently, Helena Begum complied with the ruling.

“Had I taken this case to a higher court, it would have cost me a lot more and taken at least 10 years to resolve. Now we are living peacefully without any conflict,” said Ketab.

Meanwhile, Setara Begum, 60, and her husband Mokbul Hossain, 70, of Dalbhanga village under Barguna Sadar upazila, had entrusted Tk 25,000 to their neighbour Monir Hossain, hoping for it to be returned with benefits. However, Monir refused to return the money, thereby leading to a financial dispute.

After filing a case with Dhaluya Union Village Court in July last year, Setara won the dispute within seven days as the court ordered Monir to return the full amount.

Cases like these highlight how marginalised and impoverished individuals benefit from village courts, which have been resolving minor disputes efficiently and affordably.

The Village Court Activation Project in Bangladesh is being implemented under the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Co-operatives to provide easy legal assistance to marginalised communities.

According to Rakibul Islam, district manager of the project, a total 77 village courts in Patuakhali settled 2,141 cases and collected Tk 33 lakh in fines between February and December in 2024.

In Barguna, a total 42 village courts resolved 1,025 cases and collected Tk 1.62 crore in fines during this time, he informed.

The number of resolved cases was 1,200 and 500 in Patuakhali and Barguna in 2023, respectively.

“Village courts sit on designated days of the week, where complainants and defendants present their cases, similar to formal courts. The union parishad chairman oversees the proceedings, with parishad members representing both parties,” Rakibul explained.

Abu Hasnat Mohammad Arefin, deputy commissioner of Patuakhali, said, “Under the project, marginalised communities are now being able to resolve minor disputes conveniently and affordably, avoiding the long and costly legal procedures of formal courts.”