“Come forward with the mindset of serving people. It’s not possible to reduce the sufferings of those people seeking justice by merely enacting laws and enhancing infrastructural facilities,” she said.
The Prime Minister said this while addressing a function marking the National Legal Aid Day at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital. She also reiterated that the three organs of the State-legislature, judiciary and executive-will have to work with an understanding for successfully running the state and urged all concerned to remain alert in this regard.
“A state could never be run properly if one of these (organs) accuses others…everyone should remain alert about it,” Sheikh Hasina said.
She said, every branch has its own power as the legislative branch frames laws, the judiciary implements those laws and the executive branch ensures the enforcement of those laws. “So, no one of the three state organs could move alone as all of those need to move ahead maintaining understanding. I’ll only say no one should forget this that the state should have to be run properly taking all together.” The National Legal Aid Day is being observed on Friday across the country aiming to make people aware of the legal assistance provided by the government to the poor, insolvent, and destitute justice seekers.
Chaired by Law Minister Anisul Huq, the function was addressed, among others, by Law and Justice Division Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque. Director of the National Legal Aid Services Organisation M Mostafizur Rahman delivered the address of welcome. A presentation on the successes and achievements of the National Legal Aid Services Organisation was screened on the occasion.
The Prime Minister also digitally inaugurated a documentary drama written, directed and acted by Law and Justice Division secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque on the legal aid services.
The Prime Minister said, her government has been working to establish an independent, neutral and modern judiciary system hoping that such legal aid services would help to reduce the discriminations.
Recalling the experiences of her and her Father Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in jail, the Prime Minister said that based on such experiences and taking information during the jail period, her government had introduced the legal aid services and the poor, hapless and distressed people are now getting its benefits.
Sheikh Hasina said during her term during 1996-2001, her government had enacted the National Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 but the subsequent BNP-Jamaat government stopped providing such services through Legal Aid. The Prime Minister said over the last eight years from 2009 to March 2017, legal aid services have been provided to some 2,31,626 people, including 1, 66,339 female and children with the government fund. Some 46,546 cases have been dissolved under the government legal aid programme during the period.
Sheikh Hasina said her government gave permanent shape to the separation of Judiciary through enacting the Code of Criminal Procedure (Amendment) Act, 2009.
The Prime Minister said special committees were formed at courts in remote areas of the country as well as at labour courts to provide legal assistance. Besides, the government legal aid service is also being provided in the Supreme Court through formulating Bangladesh Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.
