Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain has decided to run all 53 High Court benches from Sunday to virtually hear and dispose of urgent cases, except for anticipatory bail petitions.

The chief justice constituted the 53 benches with 86 judges assigning their jurisdictions.

The HC benches have been asked to conduct judicial functions using information technology and following "practice directions" in virtual presence of lawyers, officials and others concerned.

Earlier, only 16 benches of the HC performed judicial functions virtually due to ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

A full bench of the Appellate Division, headed by Chief Justice Syed Mahmud Hossain, is now conducting functions for five working days and its chamber bench virtually operates judicial functions three days in a week like they did, Supreme Court Spokesman Mohammad Saifur Rahman told The Daily Star.