Magistrates’ courts to hear cheque bounce cases under Tk 5 lakh

First-class magistrates or metropolitan magistrates’ courts will now resolve cheque dishonour cases involving amounts below Tk 5 lakh, offering quicker access to justice for small creditors.

In this regard, the government issued an ordinance titled “Negotiable Instrument (Amendments) Ordinance, 2026” on Monday. It will come into effect immediately, it said.

However, if the cheque amount exceeds Tk 5 lakh, the case must be tried by a court not inferior to that of a Metropolitan Joint Sessions Judge or a Joint Sessions Judge, as applicable.

The jurisdictional distinction is designed to streamline the trial process and ensure that higher-value financial disputes are handled at a more senior judicial level, while smaller claims remain within the magistracy.

For small creditors -- including traders, suppliers and individual lenders -- the provision means their cases can be heard at magistrates’ courts without escalation to higher sessions courts, potentially reducing procedural delays.