Former President of Khulna District Lawyers’ Association and ex-member of Bar Council advocate MM Mujibur Rahman said the lawyers were struggling to cope with the trial process being conducted through videoconferencing.

Most lawyers, especially senior ones, are facing difficulties in dealing with cases as their IT knowledge is very poor, Mujibur Rahman said.

General Secretary of the District Lawyers Association KM Iqbal Hossain said the virtual court process is very easy but most of the lawyers are not familiar with it and facing some initial problems.

“Within one or two days, they’ll overcome this technical difficulty,” he said.

The virtual courts formally started their proceedings with six to seven bail applications on Wednesday, President of District Lawyers Association Advocate Md Saiful Islam said.

“There’re 20 computers for lawyers in the district. Those who’re weak in information technology can use those for help,” he said.   

Trial proceedings through videoconferencing began across the country on Monday as court operation remained suspended since March 26 as part of efforts to curb coronavirus transmission.

Earlier, the High Court on Sunday formed three separate benches for hearing urgent cases virtually during the ongoing holidays and directed the subordinate court concerned to hear cases related to emergency bail.

Also read: 144 get bail from virtual courts on Tuesday

The Cabinet on May 7 cleared the draft of an ordinance to pave the way for courts to run trial proceedings through videoconference and other digital means using IT and later an ordinance was promulgated in this regard.