Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq on Saturday said the success of the government’s legal assistance programme depends on public awareness.
“A part of the country’s population is still poor and illiterate. They are not that much aware about their legal rights. So, we have to create public awareness about the matter through extensive publicity. Apart from this, all the judges, lawyers, NGO officials and civil society have to express solidarity with the government’s legal assistance program,” he said.
The minister was speaking as chief guest at the inaugural session of a function held on the occasion of National Legal Services Day-2018 at the capital’s Osmani Memorial Auditorium.
Presided over by Law and Justice Division Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque, the function was also addressed by Senior Secretary of Legislative and Parliamentary Division Mohammad Shahidul Haque and National Legal Aid Services Organization Director Md Zafrul Hasan, among others.
“The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formulated the National Legal Aid Services Act in 2000 to provide legal aid at government’s cost to people unable to pay legal expenses and established the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) in the same year to conduct the government’s legal assistance program,” the law minister said.
“After coming to power again in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina again took initiatives to expedite the implementation of the National Legal Aid Services Act, 2000, which remained neglected during the tenure of BNP-Jamaat alliance government. Legal aid committees were formed in all 64 districts led by district and session judges. Apart from districts, legal aid committees are working in upazila and union levels. We have legal an aid committee at the apex court too,” he added.
The Law Minister further said any citizen, especially acid attack victims, widows or those abandoned by husband, people languishing in jail without trial, differently abled, victims of human trafficking, or people who are unable to get justice, are being given legal assistance at the government’s cost.
