Judiciary
Bandarban

History of Bandarban Judiciary

The journey of justice in Bandarban is a story of change, resilience, and the effort to bring fairness to one of Bangladesh’s most unique regions.

Long ago, during the Mughal era, the Chittagong Hill Tracts—including what we now know as Bandarban—were simply part of the larger Chittagong district. That changed in 1765, when the British took control of the civil administration of Bengal, Bihar, and Orissa. Their rule brought big changes, especially in how justice and governance were handled.

In 1860, the British officially made the Chittagong Hill Tracts a separate district. A man named Captain Magrath was put in charge—not just of administration, but also law, order, and collecting revenue. A few years later, in 1867, another British officer, Captain T.H. Lewin, took over as the first Deputy Commissioner. He played multiple roles—judge, administrator, and more—all at once.

But while the British brought structure, they didn’t always bring fairness. In 1900, they introduced a law called the Chittagong Hill Tracts Regulation, which gave huge power to administrative officers. People couldn’t hire lawyers to defend themselves. And there was no oversight from the High Court. If you had a dispute, the Deputy Commissioner acted as judge, and appeals were sent to the Divisional Commissioner—another government officer, not a judge.

Despite all this, the people of the hills held on to their own traditions. Local disputes were often settled by village headmen, Mouza headmen, or the Circle Chief—leaders chosen and respected by the community. Their decisions were based on customs and social norms, and in many ways, this system better reflected the lives and values of the people.

As time went on, the rest of Bangladesh began moving toward a more modern and independent court system. The Bangladesh Constitution promised equal access to justice, the separation of powers, and independent courts. In 2007, following the famous Masdar Hossain case, the judiciary was officially separated from the executive branch across the country.

But the hill districts—Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachari—were left behind for a little longer. A law from the 1980s had kept the old system in place, where administrative officers still held judicial power. This meant civil and criminal trials weren’t always handled by professional judges.

That finally began to change in 2003. A new amendment transferred judicial powers from government administrators to trained judges working under the Supreme Court. And on July 1, 2008, Bandarban officially got its own District and Sessions Judge Court, thanks in part to a legal push by local lawyers and organizations like BLAST.

Bandarban is more than just a district—it’s a vibrant home to many communities. Alongside Bengalis, there are 11 indigenous groups, including the Marma, Chakma, Tripura, Murong, and others, each with their own language, culture, and way of life.

Today, the judiciary in Bandarban walks a delicate but important path. It blends the formal legal system used across the country with the customary practices that have shaped community life here for generations. It listens not just to the letter of the law, but also to the voices of the people.

With respect for tradition and a strong belief in justice for all, the Bandarban judiciary continues to grow—working to build a fairer, more inclusive system for everyone who calls these hills home.