Access to legal aid is a fundamental human right. To that end, the government has taken the initiative to provide legal aid to the indigent and indigent people at their own expense.
Although there was not much awareness among the people about this government initiative earlier, it is increasing day by day. This becomes clear when you look at the statistics of people who have sought legal assistance at government expense.
A recent report by the National Legal Aid Organization said that in the last 13 and a half years, about 800,000 people across the country have received legal aid at government expense. At the same time, about 996,745,633 taka has been recovered from victims through alternative dispute resolution before the verdict of the case.
Statistics show that during this period, 318,605 people received legal advice. Assistance was provided in 328,583 cases. Of these cases, 157,624 were settled. 64,140 cases were served through alternative dispute resolution between both parties before the verdict of the case.
One lakh 12 thousand 318 people have benefited through ADR. 17 thousand 328 people have been provided services through the hotline.
This report has been sent to relevant departments, including the Ministry of Law.
During her first term in office, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina took the initiative to provide legal aid at government expense to the financially indigent, helpless and people seeking justice who were unable to access justice due to various socio-economic reasons. To that end, she enacted the 'Legal Aid Act, 2000' and institutionalized the government's legal aid program by establishing the National Legal Aid Agency.
However, after the change of government in 2001, the implementation of this law stalled. Then, in 2009, when Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formed the government for the second time, the head office of the National Legal Aid Organization was established on Bailey Road in Dhaka in order to make legal aid activities dynamic and service-friendly, and under it, legal aid activities were launched in the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Chowki Courts, and Labor Courts, along with the establishment of legal aid offices in every district.
Currently, the National Legal Aid Organization is conducting legal aid activities by forming legal aid committees at every district, upazila and union level of the country, and even in the Supreme Court, the highest court.
In this regard, Law Minister Anisul Haque said, one of the dreams of the Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman was to ensure the rule of law, fundamental human rights and justice for all. For this purpose, the government of Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina enacted the National Legal Aid Act in 2000. Under this act, the National Legal Aid Organization was also established. The government is working to bring this service to the doorsteps of the common man.