Paperless Court in Bangladesh: A Timely Demand Lessons from Singapore

The judicial system of Bangladesh is plagued by excessive case backlogs, procedural inefficiencies, high litigation costs, and a lack of transparency, making access to justice difficult for many. In response to these challenges, digital transformation through paperless courts has emerged as a potential solution to enhance judicial efficiency, transparency, and accessibility. This paper explores the concept of paperless courts, focusing on how digital case management, e-filing, virtual hearings, and artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted legal processes can streamline judicial administration. Drawing from the experiences of Singapore, which has successfully implemented digital courts, this study examines how Bangladesh can adapt similar strategies to modernize its judiciary. Singapore's Integrated Case Management System (ICMS) serve as the best model demonstrating how digitalization can reduce delays and increase efficiency. The paper also evaluates the legal, infrastructural, and logistical challenges associated with transitioning to a paperless court system in Bangladesh, including concerns related to cybersecurity, data privacy, and digital accessibility. Despite these challenges, the study argues that Bangladesh's judiciary must embrace comprehensive digital reforms rather than fragmented initiatives to improve case management and judicial efficiency. By adopting a structured, well-integrated approach, Bangladesh can enhance judicial accountability, restore public trust, and ensure broader access to justice through a digitally enabled, transparent, and efficient legal system.