SANGSAD BHABAN, March 5, 2024 (BSS)- Village Court (amendment) Act, 2024 was placed in the Jatiya Sangsad with an amendment of enhancing the authority of village courts to fine Tk 3,00,000, raising the amount from existing Tk 75,000.

Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives Minister M Tajul Islam today placed the bill in the House with Speaker Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury in the Chair.

After placing the bill, the minister said the government is set to enhance the authority of village courts, enabling them to raise fines from Tk 75,000 to Tk 3,00,000. The bill will be enacted after bringing an amendment of Village Court Act, 2006.

He said a village court comprises five members, including the union parishad chairman. In some cases, the court cannot function if any member remains absent. In this situation, the absent member would get seven days to be present in the meeting. If the member cannot be present, then the chairman has the power to give one additional vote, he said.

The minister urged the House to send the bill to the concerned parliamentary standing committee to provide a report after reviewing it within two months.