Stronger legal aid can ease court backlog Law Minister
Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Thursday called for strengthening legal aid services to ensure easier access to justice for marginalised people and reduce pressure on the judicial system.
He said removing barriers to justice was essential to building a fair and equitable society, urging chief legal aid officers to perform their duties with dedication, competence and a spirit of public service.
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at a certificate distribution ceremony at a city hotel marking the completion of a three-day training programme designed to enhance the capacity of chief legal aid officers.
“Serving as chief legal aid officers provides officials with an opportunity to work directly with marginalised communities and gain a deeper understanding of their lives and realities.
This experience will enrich their professional knowledge and help them deliver more effective and quality judgments in their future judicial roles,” he said.
Asaduzzaman said firsthand experience of the problems faced by ordinary people through legal aid programmes would deepen officials’ understanding of the justice system.
“Judges ensure justice by exercising the sovereign power of the state, while officials involved in legal aid programmes play an important role in removing barriers to access to justice for ordinary people,” he said.
Reducing pressure on the judicial system through legal aid services would help accelerate court proceedings and make it easier to establish an effective, justice-based system for future generations, he added.
The minister thanked the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for supporting the training programme.
He also called for collective efforts to build a liveable Bangladesh for future generations, urging chief legal aid officers to work with diligence, intelligence, wisdom and dedication.
Director General of the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid (DBLA) Md Manjurul Hossain chaired the programme.
Takuro Fujioka, chief adviser of JICA’s Access to Justice Project, and Law and Justice Division Additional Secretary SM Ershadul Alam attended as special guests.
A total of 33 participants took part in the three-day training programme, organised for the first time specifically for chief legal aid officers.
