Many sensational murder cases including that of erstwhile Constituent Assembly member SM Alauddin and Tuhin are pending for long while seven posts of judges and four of First Class Magistrates are vacant for over one and a half months.

Alauddin murder case is pending for ten years and that of Tuhin for six years, court sources said.

Of the cases, over 11,000 are under trial in 14 courts under the district judgeship and around 9000 in 10 magistrate courts including the Speedy Trial Court.

The judges and magistrates are facing immense problems in handling of the huge number of cases.

Alongside, litigants are also being deprived of justice and incurring financial losses as cases linger.

The number of pending cases is increasing every day.

Additional District and Sessions Judge Osman Haidar is conducting trial of cases pending with the three Additional District and Sessions Judges courts as two posts of additional district judges are vacant for 18 months.

Four posts of assistant judges are also vacant for over a year.

According to the Yearly Report 2005 of the District Judgeship, 10,765 cases are pending due to lack of required number of judges.

Another 9276 cases are pending with the 10 Magistrate courts.

Moreover, due to shortage of First Class Magistrates, hearing of remand of accused, recording their confessional statements and hearing of cases filed under Section 144 of Bangladesh Penal Code (BPC) are also being hampered. Discharge of duty by magistracy is also being hampered greatly as First Class Magistrates have to conduct mobile courts, eviction drives and other administrative jobs.

"Written appeals were made to the Khulna Divisional Commissioner for appointment of four First Class Magistrates several times, but to no effect", said a source.

Advocate Abdur Rahim, a senior lawyer, the bar association also urged the authorities concerned to take steps for appointment of judges and magistrates for speedy trial of cases. People's confidence in the judiciary is being affected by the long trial process, he added.