TITLE:
Impediments to Equitable Access to Justice in the Trial Process of Land Litigation in Bangladesh: A Look for a Way Out
AUTHORS:
Md. Manjur Hossain Patoari, Md. Ridwan Goni, Rokshana Jannat
KEYWORDS:
Land Litigation, Impediment, Trial Process, Access to Justice, Bangladesh
JOURNAL NAME:
Beijing Law Review,
Vol.17 No.4,
October
8,
2026
ABSTRACT: Purpose: Land is one of the essential elements of economic well-being, and there is nobody who can deny its necessity in human life. Land litigation dominates the entire judiciary of Bangladesh, as land conflict is the main source of civil litigation in the country, and a considerable portion of the total pending suits is either directly or indirectly related to land. The main objective of this study is to explore the existing impediments to equitable access to justice in the trial process of land litigation in Bangladesh and also to provide an avenue to mitigate the prevailing impediments. Design/Methodology/Approach: This study is qualitative research based on secondary data, where an analytical method is used. Sources of data are various journals, books, reports, and newspaper articles. Findings: This research finds that the judiciary is the last resort of a man, but people involved in land litigation in Bangladesh are afraid to go to the court to settle their disputes due to prevailing impediments in the way of equitable access to justice, and day by day they are losing their confidence in the judiciary. Bangladesh needs to amend the existing laws regulating land litigation and to digitalize the court management system, land offices, and land record system to enhance public confidence in the judiciary and to ensure easy, speedy, low-cost, and equitable access to justice for all. Research Limitations/Implications: The core implication of this research is that it will play an important role in ensuring easy, speedy, and low-cost justice for people involved in land litigation in Bangladesh by eliminating the defects of the existing laws governing the trial process of land litigation in the country and the malpractices of the parties, their pleaders, and a few corrupt court officials. This study will make the people of the country, particularly justice seekers in land litigation, aware of major impediments in the way of equitable access to justice in the trial process of land litigation in Bangladesh. This study also provides a new avenue for scholars to contribute their knowledge and wisdom to eliminate injustice by further researching the drawbacks of the civil justice system regulating land litigation in Bangladesh. Practical Implications: This study will play a vital role in eliminating the existing impediments to access to justice in land litigation in Bangladesh, and the litigants will be able to settle their litigation without any kind of hindrance. It will also facilitate policymakers of the country in amending the existing laws regulating land litigation to make those laws time-framed. Originality/Value: The paper sets out proposed amendments to the laws regulating land litigation and also proposes to digitalize the court management system, land offices, and land records system to deter corruption in this sector. Thus, it will be of interest to justice seekers and policymakers in those countries facing similar problems.