The authorities concerned are considering to run all the court proceedings of the Appellate Division and the High Court Division of the Supreme Court virtually again if the Covid-19 situation deteriorates further.
This consideration followed after learning that twelve judges of both the divisions have been infected with the Covid-19.
Chief Justice Hasan Foez Siddique revealed the information at the beginning of the court’s proceedings on Monday (June 27).
He said that a total of 12 judges are infected with Covid-19 now which hinders the judicial work in the court. Trial proceedings in many important benches have been suspended due to surge of Covid-19 cases. If one of a double benches gets infected, the trial of that bench remains suspended, he added.
Among the SC judges who have been infected with Covid-19 are- Justice M Enayetur Rahim of the Appellate Division, Justice Rajik Al Jalil and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir of High Court Division.
The chief justice said that the court proceeding might go virtual if the Covid-19 situation deterio rates further. He sought cooperation from the lawyers if the virtual court has to start again.
“In this case, if you don’t cooperate, then it becomes difficult for us. Otherwise, we will have to reintroduce virtual judicial proceedings,” said Hasan Foez Siddique.
Attorney General AM Amin Uddin replied that they would extend all cooperation in the court proceedings.
National technical advisory committee on Covid-19 has suggested the authorities take a six-point initiative including making the ‘no mask, no service’ principle mandatory again as the Covid-19 cases have been rising.
The other suggestions include following health guidelines, maintaining social distance, wearing masks and avoiding public gatherings.
Amid a steady rise in Covid-19 infections, Bangladesh reported two more Covid-linked deaths with 1,680 new infections in 24 hours till Sunday morning.
