Dhaka: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on the Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Ministry on Tuesday suggested the government recruit judges to vacant posts soon in order to reduce the backlog of cases piled up in courts across the country.

The committee came up with the recommendation at its 17th meeting, held at Parliament building with its chairman Suranjit Sengupta in the chair, said a parliament secretariat press release.

At the meeting, three reports on speedy disposal of the backlogged cases—two reports of the law commission and one of the parliamentary committee-were discussed.

The reports say that there are 1655 posts of judges against the country’s 16 crore people. But according to a report of the Supreme Court, as many as 457 posts remain vacant.

The causes behind unusual delay in disposing the August 21, 2004 grenade attack cases were also discussed at the meeting. The committee was informed that the trial procedures of two cases filed in this connection cost huge time due to high number of witnesses.  And deposition of 167 witnesses has already been recorded in each case.

The parliamentary watchdog suggested quick disposal of the two cases.

Committee members Law Minister Anisul Huq, Tajul Islam Choudhury, Shamsul Haque Tuku, Abdul Majid Khan, Talukder Md Yunus, Adv Ziaul Haque Mridha and Safura Begum attended the meeting.

The Law Commission chairman, its secretary, the law and justice division secretary and the legislative and parliamentary affairs secretary were, among others, present.