Gazipur: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has emphasized that access to justice is synonymous with ensuring human rights. ‘Every citizen has inalienable, inherent and universal rights, and the state has a responsibility to ensure that citizens can access justice and exercise those rights,’ he declared at the opening session of a two-day coordination meeting that concluded on Sunday.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the minister underscored the significance of digitalisation, increased public awareness of legal rights, and enhanced legal aid services. He also emphasized the necessity for greater institutional engagement by the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid and acknowledged the contributions of high-performing legal aid and judicial officers. ‘We are committed to reducing the backlog of cases within one year,’ he stated.
Bangladesh is making strides to make government legal aid services more accessible and efficient through digitalisation, as per a media release issued by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Sunday. The coordination meeting brought together justice sector stakeholders at BRAC-CDM, Gazipur, to support the rollout of the new Digital Legal Aid System under the ‘Accelerating Digital Legal Aid Services in Bangladesh’ project.
The meeting concluded on Sunday, featuring discussions by District and Sessions Judges from eight districts on topics such as Online Dispute Resolution, committee activation, training, and legal aid data management. Special attention was given to improving access for women, persons with disabilities, and those living in poverty.
Implemented by the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid (DBLA) under the ministry, with financial backing from the European Union and support from the UNDP, the project aims to modernize legal aid delivery. The new system is anticipated to streamline processes, including legal aid applications, case tracking, lawyer assignment, mediation, notifications, and data management.
The event gathered judges and legal aid officials to bolster local legal aid mechanisms, advance digital service delivery, and make justice more accessible to underserved communities. The initiative will prioritize activating Upazila and Union Legal Aid Committees, enhancing digital case management, and promoting online dispute resolution in Rajbari, Habiganj, Barguna, Netrokona, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon, Jhenaidah, and Khagrachhari.
A focal point of the meeting is the selection and functionalisation of 45 Upazila Legal Aid Committees and 300 Union Legal Aid Committees across the eight districts. These committees aim to bring legal aid services closer to communities, particularly for those facing financial, geographic, or social barriers in accessing formal justice institutions.
The opening session also saw the presence of Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquet Ali Molla, DBLA Director General Md Monjurul Hossain, Charg© d’Affaires of the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh Baiba Zarina, and Senior Rule of Law, Justice and Security Adviser at UNDP Bangladesh Romana Schweiger.