‘Access to justice means ensuring human rights’
Access to justice means ensuring human rights, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has said on Sunday.
Meanwhile, according to a media release issued by United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) on Sunday, “Bangladesh is advancing efforts to make government’s legal aid services more accessible and efficient through digitalisation.”
“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 said while speaking as the chief guest at the opening session of a two-day coordination meeting that concluded.
The Law minister also highlighted the importance of digitalisation, stronger public awareness of legal rights and legal aid services, greater institutional engagement by the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid, and recognition of high-performing legal aid and judicial officers. “We are committed to reduce the backlog of cases within one year,” he said. The two-day coordination meeting brought justice sector stakeholders together 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 ended on Sunday with District and Sessions Judges from the eight districts discussing Online Dispute Resolution, committee activation, training, and legal aid data management, with particular attention to improving access for women, persons with disabilities and people living in poverty.
Implemented by the DBLA under the ministry with financial support from the European Union and support from the UNDP, the project aims to modernise legal aid delivery.
The new system is expected to simplify legal aid applications, case tracking, lawyer assignment, mediation, notifications and data management.
The event brought together judges and legal aid officials to strengthen local legal aid mechanisms, advance digital service delivery and make justice more accessible to underserved communities.
The initiative will focus on activating Upazila and Union Legal Aid Committees, improving digital case management and promoting online dispute resolution across Rajbari, Habiganj, Barguna, Netrokona, Joypurhat, Thakurgaon, Jhenaidah and Khagrachhari.
A key focus 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 are expected to bring legal aid services closer to communities, particularly for people who face financial, geographic or social barriers in accessing formal justice institutions.
The opening session was also attended by Law and Justice Division Secretary Liaquet Ali Molla, DBLA Director General Md Monjurul Hossain, Chargé 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.
