Despite the provision to dispose of cases within a maximum of 150 days, hearing of hundreds of cases filed by workers is pending for years in the two labor courts of Chattogram.
According to lawyers, there is a provision to complete the hearing of cases filed in the trial court within 60 days. However, the court may get another 90 days to dispose of the case if it can show valid reasons. Defendants or plaintiffs in cases adjudicated in the Labor Court also have the option to appeal to the Dhaka Labor Appeal Tribunal.
Talking to lawyers and appellants revealed that many cases are pending for years in the Chattogram Labor Court due to various reasons including shortage of judges, absence of representatives of factory owners and workers in the court, delay etc. Lawyers repeatedly taking time in summoning and representatives not giving timely opinion.