The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) in judicial systems is expanding worldwide, including in Bangladesh, where the technology is increasingly used to support legal research and case summary preparation. This development comes amid a significant backlog in the country’s courts, which were reporting over 4.64 million pending cases as of March 2026.

Despite the potential benefits of AI to streamline judicial processes and ease the workload on judges and staff, concerns have been raised about the technology’s reliability and ethical implications. One major risk is "AI hallucination," a phenomenon where AI generates inaccurate or fabricated information that could mislead or distort judicial decisions. Several international incidents involving AI errors have intensified calls for robust regulation.

In response, some jurisdictions have already implemented strict measures. The European Union and India, for example, have introduced regulations that ban certain AI applications deemed unacceptable and stress the importance of maintaining human oversight and accountability within the legal system.

Bangladesh’s draft National AI Policy 2024 has identified the judiciary as a “high-risk” sector for AI deployment but currently does not include enforceable rules specific to the courts. To address this regulatory gap, a proposed framework advocates for clear delineation of permissible AI uses in legal contexts. Key recommendations include mandatory disclosure whenever AI substantially contributes to case filings or documentation, certification and ongoing supervision of AI tools by a specialized committee under the Supreme Court, and stringent data protection measures such as minimization and anonymization of sensitive information.

The framework also underscores the importance of training judicial personnel on AI applications and risks to ensure informed use and oversight. Advocates argue that with appropriate safeguards, AI could help reduce the court backlog and increase operational efficiency, while critics caution that without clear controls, reliance on AI might lead to errors with significant consequences for justice.

As Bangladesh navigates the challenges of integrating AI into its legal system, balancing innovation with accountability remains a central concern for policymakers and legal professionals alike.