Law of the land is a dynamic society requires to be constantly reviewed by an authority to be manned by persons having adequate and thorough knowledge of law and the society. Thus the need to establish a law reform agency was felt by different countries at different times and Law Commissions have been set up to fulfill the need. The Law Commission in Bangladesh came about in that historic process. Launching of this web site on the part of the Law Commission is an attempt to inform the people about he Commission and the jobs carried out by it so far. It is an unending process and it will be updated with the addition of works as will accumulate with the passage of time.
Background
In the Indian sub-continent the first Law Commission was established in 1834 under the Chairmanship of Lord Macaulay under the Charter Act of 1833. Thereafter the second, third and fourth Law Commissions were consecutively established in 1853, 1861 and 1879 respectively. The first Law Commission in addition to other recommendations made recommendations for codification of the Indian Penal Code, 1860 and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898. The consecutive three Law Commissions enriched the treasure of the laws of the Indian sub- continent by initiating a large number of diversified laws. Besides, the Indian Penal Code and the Code of Criminal Procedure, the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908, the Evidence Act, 1872, Indian Contract Act, 1872 and the Transfer of Property Act, 1882 etc. are the outcome of labor of the aforesaid four Law Commissions. During the Pakistan period two Law Reform Commissions; first one under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice S.A. Rahman in 1958 and the second one under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Hamoodur Rahman in 1967 were established. Justice S.A. Rahman Law Reform Commission examined the causes of delay in disposal of Civil and Criminal cases and also made recommendations for making suitable amendments in the related laws. Justice Hamoodur Rahman Law Reform Commission submitted an exhaustive report in the matter of delay of disposal of Civil and Criminal cases. After emergence of Bangladesh the first Law Reform Committee was formed in 1976 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Kemal Uddin Hossain. Later on a Law Reform Committee was formed in 1979 under the Chairmanship of Mr. Justice Altaf Hossain. The aforesaid Law Reform Committees amongst other issues examined the procedural aspects of Civil and Criminal Code and made some recommendations of relevant laws for speedy disposal of Civil and Criminal cases. In 1990 another Law Commission was set up under the Chairmanship of Barrister Ashrarul Hossain. This Commission existed for a short period and it made recommendations on the reforms of the Code of Civil Procedure, 1908 and some other laws. A temporary Law Reform Commission was established on May 25, 1996, in pursuance of the executive resolution dated 7-4-1994 vide No 120-Law/vetting/33/93 with Mr. Justice Naimuddin Ahmed as a Member as well as Acting Chairman. On 4th August, 1996 the former Chief Justice of Bangladesh Mr. Justice Dr. F.K.M.A Munim was appointed the Chairman of the Law Reform Commission.