“The powers and functions of the family court with reference to the laws and judicial development in Bangladesh: An overview”

Abstract

In Bangladesh, as in other diverse states of the world, individuals reside with their families. In a formal sense, a family consists of a husband and wife along with their offspring. It is often stated that to make mistakes is a human characteristic. Family disputes come from misconceptions. From this perspective, the Family Court in Bangladesh was instituted through the family courts ordinance of 1985, which significantly contributed to resolving disputes related to marriage, divorce, maintenance, guardianship, and child custody. The Family Courts Ordinance of 1985 provided a legal framework for these Courts; however, the family court act of 2023 introduces significant changes to expedite case resolution by abrogating that Ordinance. Moreover, significant judicial rulings have strengthened women's rights, child welfare, and the enforcement of maintenance orders. This research provides an extensive discussion of the authority of family courts, along with the five areas of jurisdiction under Bangladeshi law. It also determines the courts authorized to adjudicate family-related cases and suggests methods to enhance the efficacy of the Family Court system.