The government has withdrawn the requirement for victims of dowry-related “simple injury” cases to undergo mandatory mediation before filing lawsuits. A gazette issued on Wednesday also removed the same provision for cheque dishonor complaints under Tk 500,000. For now, the decision applies to 12 districts including Faridpur, Mymensingh, Rangpur, Dinajpur, Satkhira, Kushtia, Cumilla, Noakhali, Rangamati, Sylhet, Moulvibazar, and Sunamganj.
The mediation requirement was introduced under the Legal Aid (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, which came into effect on September 18. Women’s rights activists strongly opposed the move, calling it a violation of justice and human rights. “Dowry-related assault is a criminal offense. Forcing the victim to sit beside her abuser in the name of mediation is a gross violation,” said Masuda Rehana Begum of Bangladesh Mahila Parishad.
With this decision, the ordinance will now cover seven specific laws, including family law disputes, dowry prohibition, tenancy disputes, and parents’ maintenance claims. Critics have warned that the Legal Aid offices lack the capacity to resolve disputes within the mandated 21 days and that mediators have been given legal immunity, raising concerns of new burdens on victims.
Legal analyst and former judge Faujul Azim welcomed the government’s reversal on dowry injury cases, saying it showed “wisdom and responsiveness.” However, he cautioned that without adequate preparation and trained mediators, mandatory pre-trial mediation in other disputes could bring “new suffering for justice-seekers.”
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