[{"bbox": [83, 106, 1145, 165], "category": "Text", "text": "countrywide at the semi-formal level as well as by reducing the formal justice system case backlog through improved case management and coordination, at global level."}, {"bbox": [83, 193, 1145, 309], "category": "Text", "text": "The main sector addressed is the legal and judicial development (DAC 15130). The proposed Action is aligned with the EU Results Framework: Support provision of fair justice, including access to legal assistance (63) and it will contribute to the achievement of SDG 5 (gender equality) and SDG 16 (peace, justice and strong institutions)."}, {"bbox": [83, 337, 1145, 454], "category": "Text", "text": "Strengthening the justice system is an acknowledged priority for Bangladesh, as outlined in its new Five Year Plan (8th FYP). A national justice audit, commissioned by the Government, was carried out by GIZ and provides a solid diagnostic of the current justice system. On its basis, the Government intends to carry out targeted reforms to reduce the huge case backlog by 2025."}, {"bbox": [83, 482, 1145, 742], "category": "Text", "text": "The EU has so far supported the semi-formal justice system by making the national Village Courts structure functional in over 1 000 Union Councils (Union Parishad - UP) out of a total of 4 500 nationwide. The proposed Action will have two intertwined components targeting both the formal as well as the semi-formal justice system, while building institutional linkages between both systems. On the one hand, it will continue to support the establishment and completion of the semi-formal dispute resolution mechanism in the form of Village Courts (component 1). On the other hand, it will continue the work already carried out in the area by GIZ by tackling the delay in the disposal of cases and the case backlog (component 2). Improved case management and coordination at the formal level will help to institutionalise and formalise Village Courts within the justice system and vice versa."}, {"bbox": [72, 770, 301, 802], "category": "Section-header", "text": "## 2. RATIONALE"}, {"bbox": [87, 833, 220, 860], "category": "Section-header", "text": "### 2.1. Context"}, {"bbox": [83, 903, 1145, 1078], "category": "Text", "text": "Bangladesh political scene is characterised by a long-term confrontation between the two main parties: Awami League (AL) and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with the first one dominating the landscape. The latest elections (2018) were undermined by fraud allegations and irregularities. The major risks are political in nature: Islamic fundamentalism, Human Rights violations (including by security forces), weak governance with threats to democracy and Rule of Law¹⁰. Media and civil society are also under pressure with a legal framework not in line with international standards of freedom of expression¹¹."}, {"bbox": [83, 1106, 1145, 1338], "category": "Text", "text": "On the other side, Bangladesh has made significant progress over the past decades in human development, poverty reduction and economic growth, allowing it to graduate out of the LDC UN list in 2026. IMF real GDP growth rate is estimated at 3.8% in Fiscal Year (FY) 20 (July19-June20), substantially lower than the pre-pandemic projection (8.2%), but still remarkably positive. Nevertheless, the economic growth has been accompanied by a rise in income inequality and with an intrinsic fragility linked to the specialisation of the export sector (essentially ready-made garment) and to the dependence on labour migration, as source of jobs and foreign currency. Government response to COVID has been overall quite significant (more than 12 billion EUR) but mostly based on extending and facilitating credit facility."}, {"bbox": [83, 1366, 1145, 1511], "category": "Text", "text": "Overall, despite its economic growth and progress in poverty reduction and human development, Bangladesh ranks low in the six World Governance Indicators and the World Justice Project reports that Bangladesh's rank has further deteriorated in 2020 (115 out 128 countries). There are particularly high rates of poverty among women and girls of disadvantaged and marginalized communities. Female-headed households are most at risk of living in poverty."}, {"bbox": [72, 1590, 791, 1616], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹⁰ The country ranked 146th out of 180 in the World Corruption Perception Index 2020"}, {"bbox": [72, 1614, 1157, 1661], "category": "Footnote", "text": "¹¹ Bangladesh was 150th on the World Press Freedom Index and 112th out of 126 in the World Justice Project Rule of Law Index in 2019"}, {"bbox": [1051, 1663, 1158, 1687], "category": "Page-footer", "text": "Page 4 of 27"}]