Virtual court hearings: 54,677 people secure bail in 40 working days

The lower courts across the country disposed of total 1,07,037 bail petitions and granted bail to a total of 54,677 people, including 651 children, accused of criminal charges through virtual process in last 40 days -- from May 11 to July 9.

Of them, the courts have granted bail to 4,915 people after disposing of total 11,514 bail petitions from July 5 to July 9 in connection with the cases against them, Supreme Court Spokesman Md Saifur Rahman said today.

He also said the courts of chief judicial magistrates and chief metropolitan magistrates have disposed of surrender related petitions of the accused in 6,588 criminal cases and granted bail to 23,396 accused from July 5 to July 9.

More than 300 courts have granted bail to the accused people after holding virtual hearings of the petitions filed by them seeking bail in the cases against them. 

The virtual court functions started on May 11 after a gap of 46 days in order to deal with the urgent cases.                                                                         

The regular activities of courts across the country including Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court remained closed since March 26 due to ongoing coronavirus outbreak.                   

On May 10, Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain issued some directives for the courts about dealing with urgent cases through using information and communication technology during the ongoing closure.