The parliamentary standing committee on finance ministry has proposed the government to form a special bench in the High Court for immediate disposal of the 5,249 cases pending in different courts.

Chairman of the standing committee lawmaker Gazi Shahjahan Jewel at a meeting at the conference room of Customs House here discussed the matter yesterday morning.

"The committee will take effective measure for the formation of the bench," Shahjahan said.

He told the meeting that they will take initiative to appoint an additional district magistrate as law officer to deal with the pending cases. "Absence of a law officer in last eight months has forced the government suffer a huge financial loss," he observed.

He said a coordination meeting between the standing committees on shipping and finance ministries will be held soon to ensure fast cargo handling at Chittagong port.

Committee members placed stress on providing enhanced logistics support for the Chittagong Customs House, the largest revenue earner of the country. They also emphasised the need for strengthening the anti-smuggling drives.

Committee members and other officials were present.