The Ministry has undertaken a development project called the Legal and Judicial Capacity Building Project. The total estimated cost of the project is Tk.228.75 crore. The project is financed by the World Bank, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA) and the Government's own resources. The project period is fixed till December 2006. The project is designed to address two broad critical areas and issues, namely, Legal Capacity Building and judicial Capacity Building, detailed further below.

  The Project activities include institutional capacity building of (i) the Legislative Drafting Wing of the Ministry and (ii) the Law Commission.

 The capacity of the Ministry's Legislative Wing is being enhanced to effectively assist the government in drafting laws, rules, regulations as well as other statutory rules and legal instruments. A Legislative Drafting Service has been established. Officers in the Service are all permanent. CIDA is developing and implementing a training and development program for the Wing, which include, among other things, drafting manual and standards, legislative principles, computerized management and networking, library facilities etc. Under the program, officers of the Wing are being trained on relevant professional techniques and academic subjects by national and expatriate consultants. The Legislative Wing will be converted to a full Division.

 The Law Commission is being strengthened so as to be able to fulfill its purposes and to play its expected part in carrying out the Government's agenda of legal reforms. Modern and advanced work methodology is being developed for the Commission. Network and links with advanced legal research institutes are also being developed. CIDA is financing this component under grant facility.

Now in many places, judges are to share chambers and court rooms. Under this project, works of construction of new court buildings, vertical extension and renovation of existing court building in 22 districts are underway. Total estimated cost is about 105 crore taka. World Bank will spend 73 crore taka under long term soft credit facility, while GOB will contribute 32 core taka. This component, when implemented, will help overcome the existing acute problem of accommodation of office chambers and court rooms.

The technical reforms in respect of court administration and case management in Supreme Court as well as in District Courts is another important facet of the project. The overall productivity and output of judicial performances by judges will be considerably augmented with successful implementation of the designed reforms measures in court administration and case management. The existing rules relating to court administration and case management are being thoroughly examined, reformed and experimented.

Introduction of computerized management and information system (CMIS) in Supreme Courts and District Courts will significantly contribute to the capacity enhancement of the judiciary as a whole. Introduction of computer technology in court administration and case management is being implemented under the project. Modules are being developed. It will also provide LAN facilities in the Supreme Court and gradually in all the district courts.

The Project has also programs to develop human resources within the Judiciary. The Judges of all ranks are being trained on different subjects on continuous basis. Judges are also being trained on computer operation and management. DANIDA is carrying out the training programs. A modern training complex, with all modern facilities, at a cost of TK. 12 corers is being constructed at a place near to the Supreme Court. World Bank is financing this under long term soft credit.