Strengthening State-led Rural Justice in Bangladesh

Book excerpt: Economically poor and marginalised rural people do need a justice system which is easily accessible, less expensive, efficient, fair, impartial, unbiased, capable to provide remedies timely, and consistent with their values. The objectives of introducing State-led Rural Justice Systems, namely the Village Court system and the Arbitration Council system, were to fulfil this need of the rural population in Bangladesh. In other words, the objectives were to provide them with better alternatives to the village shalish that often becomes a space for the powerful village elite to exercise their various types of power. Previous studies show that the State-led justice systems have failed to achieve the objectives miserably. The reasons why the state-led rural justice systems are yet to become better alternatives to the shalish, or why these systems have failed to provide access to justice to more rural justice seekers have become obvious in this book. This book suggests an immediate state intervention in the field of rural justice. Despite some plaguing incapacities, the state-led rural justice systems have adequate strengths. A thoughtful and careful intervention to fight the weaknesses and challenges exposed in this study can strengthen the state-led rural justice systems to a greater extent.