5 Major Reforms in the New CPC Amendment Ordinance 2025 You Must Know

The Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 (CPC), has long been the foundation of Bangladesh’s civil justice system. However, since the law is over a century old, many of its provisions are no longer compatible with the current digital age. There have been demands for reform for a long time due to delays, complications, unnecessary costs, and inefficiency in handling cases. In that regard, the Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025 was promulgated, bringing several important reforms to make the judicial system modern, fast, technology-based, and effective.

Mandatory Affidavits and Increased Fines

According to the amended Section 26, filing an affidavit along with the plaint is now mandatory when filing any civil case. The plaintiff will have to confirm the truth of their claim through an oath. As a result, baseless or false cases will be reduced, the plaintiff’s position will be clear from the outset, and the process of verifying initial facts will be more efficient.

As per the amended Section 35A, the fine for filing false, harassing, or vexatious cases has been increased from Tk 20,000 to Tk 50,000. This will reduce the tendency to file cases for harassing purposes, and litigants will be more cautious before filing cases.

Digital Summons and Contact Information

According to the new provisions (Order VII), the plaintiff must provide detailed contact information, including name and address, along with mobile number, email, and NID. This will make it easier to verify the identity of the parties and speed up communication, especially in the case of issuing a digital summons.

However, the use of personal information may raise privacy concerns. According to the amended provisions, screenshots or delivery reports must be saved as evidence. This will speed up the issuance of summons, reduce the tendency of wrong addresses or evasion, and save time and cost for the court.

Streamlining Hearings and Adjournments

According to the amended provision (Order IX, Rule 13), an application for setting aside an ex parte decree can be made only once in the same case. This will reduce unnecessary delays and prevent defendants from deliberately avoiding the hearing. The revised provision limits the number of adjournments to a maximum of 4 (previously 6). This will result in faster completion of hearings and require parties to be more mindful of time management.

Evidence on Affidavit

Under the new provision, examination-in-chief can now be filed as a written affidavit rather than orally. This will save the court time and make the presentation of evidence more organized. However, cross-examination and re-examination will remain oral as before, and the skills of lawyers in examining evidence will become more important.

Simplification of Execution Proceedings

In the revised execution system, a separate execution suit will no longer be required to enforce the judgment; a direct execution application will suffice. If the money is not collected, the judgment-debtor can be sent to civil jail for a maximum of 6 months. In addition, with the repeal of the previous Section 57, the state will now bear the food and accommodation expenses of the prisoner.

According to the new Section 94A, it will be mandatory for other agencies, including the police, to comply with the court’s orders in implementing the decree, which will increase the effectiveness of the judgment.

Impact of the Amendments

The amendments have brought about major changes to make the judicial process faster, modern, and more efficient. Affidavit-based evidence, limited adjournments, and execution in a single case will reduce time and cost. Making affidavits and detailed contact information mandatory with the plaint at the outset will reduce false or baseless cases.

Conclusion

The Code of Civil Procedure (Amendment) Ordinance, 2025, is an important initiative to modernize, speed up, and make the civil justice system of Bangladesh more efficient. It will facilitate the taking of evidence, digital communication, and enforcement of judgments, which will benefit the people seeking justice. However, its success will depend on the court infrastructure, IT management, training, human resources, and judicial awareness.