ZCZC
BSS-06
DAY-LEGAL-AID-SERVICES
Country to observe National Legal Aid Services Day tomorrow
DHAKA, April 27, 2019 (BSS) – Country is all set to observe National
Legal Aid Services Day for the seventh time tomorrow.
This year, National Legal Aid Services Day would be observed with the
theme “Sheikh Hasina’s contrition in Bangabandhu’s Sonar Bangla: Providing
Legal Aid Free of Cost (Bangabandhu’s Sonar Banglay Sheikh Hasina’r Obodan:
Binamulle Legal Aid’a Aini Sebadan)”.
To make people aware of the legal aid services, the government from a
cabinet meeting on January 29, 2013, declared April 28 as National Legal Aid
Services Day.
Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formulated
National Legal Aid Services Act in 2000 to provide legal aid at government’s
cost to people unable to pay legal expenses and established National Legal
Aid Services Organization (NLASO) in the same year to carry out government’s
legal assistance activities.
“After coming to power again in 2009, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina again
took initiatives to expedite the implementation of 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 level. We have legal aid committee at the
apex court also,” Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq
said.
He further said any citizen, especially acid attack victims, widow or
abandoned by husband, people languishing in jail without trial, differently
able people, victims of human trafficking, or people who are unable to get
justice, are being given legal assistance at government’s cost.
The inaugural function of the day would be held at Hotel
Intercontinental in the city at 10 am tomorrow. Legal aid fair and cultural
activities will be held at Dhanmondi Ravindra Sarobar.
BTRC has been requested to send SMS on legal aid to all the mobile
subscribers in the country on that day as government info.
Meanwhile, NLASO assistant director Qazi Yasin Habib said for the first
time legal aid awards will be given to best Legal Aid Office, best panel
lawyer and three private organizations working in this regard.
BSS/ASG/MHR/IJ/1646 hrs