Focus on adequate manpower for smooth running of village courts

FE Team | Published: February 04, 2018 20:58:18

RANGPUR, Feb 04 (BSS): Officials and experts at a divisional conference on Sunday laid emphasis on the need for increasing manpower to ensure smooth functioning of the village courts in reaching justice to the rural people's doorsteps.
They came up with the observation at the conference on 'Importance and Role of Local Administrations in Activating Village Courts' held at Begum Rokeya auditorium of RDRS Bangladesh in the city.
The divisional administration organised the conference under the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (second phase) Project being implemented with financial assistance of the European Union and UNDP.
The Local Government Division is implementing the project through Eco Social Development Organisation (ESDO) in 183 unions under 20 upazilas of four northern districts of Panchagarh, Rangpur, Kurigram and Gaibandha under Rangpur division.
Some 258 participants, including deputy commissioners, deputy directors (Local Government), UNOs, union chairmen, officials of the Local Government Division from the four districts participated.
Divisional Commissioner Kazi Hasan Ahmed attended as the chief guest with Rangpur Divisional Director (Local Government) Md Anwar Hossain in the chair.
On behalf of the UNDP, National Project Coordinator of the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (second phase) Project M Asaduzzaman delivered welcome speech.
He also said goals and objectives of the project that aims to further strengthening activities of the village courts in reaching justice easily to the rural people.
Deputy Director (Local Government) for Rangpur Ruhul Amin Mian delivered PowerPoint presentation narrating activities of the village courts in Rangpur division, progress achieved so far and challenges being faced in running the courts.
Deputy Inspector General for Rangpur Range Khondker Golam Faruk, Additional Divisional Commissioner (General) Minu Shill, Deputy Commissioners Muhammad Wahiduzzaman of Rangpur, Abu Saleh Md Ferdous Khan of Kurigram, Gautam Kumar Paul of Gaibandha and Mohammad Jahirul Islam of Panchagarh and Executive Director of ESDO Dr Muhammad Shahid Uz Zaman also spoke on the occasion. Later, the chief guest inaugurated pictorial exhibition on the activities of village courts in Rangpur division and visited different stalls set up by administrations of the four northern districts.
The participating union chairmen narrated experiences in running the village courts and prevailing challenges with suggestions for further strengthening and increasing the judicial jurisdiction of the village courts.
The chief guest stressed on increasing manpower of village courts to give those institutional shapes for reaching justice to the rural people by resolving minor disputes and conflicts amicably through proper implementation of the project.