Local Government Institutions (LGIs), particularly Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad have vital role towards making the government’s cost-free legal aid services to the extremely poor and distressed litigants more effective, dynamic and successful.
Utmost emphasis should be given on holding of Upazila Legal Aid Committee (ULAC) and Union Parishad Legal Aid Committee (UPLAC) meeting regularly so that desired result is attained in this regard.
The observations came in a coordination meeting of District Legal Aid Committee (DLAC) with ULAC and UPLAC held at the conference hall of the Rajshahi District Judge Court, Rajshahi yesterday. DLAC organized the meeting in association with USAID’s Justice for All Programme, Sachetan and National Centre for State Court.
With Kabita Khanom, Senior District and Session Judge and DLAC Chairman, in the chair, Judge of Women and Child Repression Prevention Tribunal-2 KM Shahid Ahmed, Chief Judicial Magistrate Al Asad Md Asifuzzaman, District Legal Aid Officer Selim Reja, Senior Assistant Judge Md Nuruzzaman and Senior Additional SP Golam Ruhul Quddus addressed the meeting.
Bagmara Upazila Chairman Jakirul Islam Santu, Mohanpur Upazila Chairman Abdus Samad, Godagai Upazila Chairman Ishaque Ali and President of Metropolitan Press Club Mominul Islam also spoke.
DLAC Chairman Kabita Khanom said the public representatives and others concerned should be more sincere towards ensuring legal aids to the grassroots poor, distressed and other needy litigants.
She said that all people are equal to the eye of law so emphasis should be given on bringing all the victimised people under the legal aid coverage whatever and whenever they need.
Giving priority to the legal aid related cases is very important in terms of speedy disposal in the greater interest of the distressed and poor justice-seeker litigants.
In his remark, Tribunal Judge K M Shahid Ahmed emphasised the need for concerted efforts of all quarters to ensure access to justice of the distressed and disadvantaged people. He viewed that infusing dynamism in the legal aid services could be the effective means of attaining the cherished goal.
Importance should be given on bringing close coordination between the
works of all the LGIs, development organisations and judiciary alongside
building a network to earn positive result in this regard.
Besides, he emphasised the need for reaching the legal aid activities to
the grassroots alongside expediting the services towards the poor and
distressed victims for protecting their fundamental human rights.
