Right to free legal assistance

FE Team | Published: April 18, 2026 20:32:33

When justice is unaffordable, marginalised individuals are effectively excluded from the courtroom. To address this systemic inequality, Bangladesh observes National Legal Aid Day every 28 April, reminding the state of its constitutional obligation to ensure equal access to legal protection for all.
This observance traces its roots to the Legal Aid Services Act of 2000 and the establishment of the National Legal Aid Services Organization. This decentralised body provides assistance to vulnerable citizens, including individuals earning below BDT 1,50,000 annually, widows, ethnic minorities, and persons with disabilities.
Since a right is meaningless if people are unaware of it, the day places strong emphasis on grassroots awareness through rallies, free legal counselling fairs, and mass media campaigns. Over the past decade, this state-supported initiative has assisted hundreds of thousands of people. A key achievement has been the promotion of Alternative Dispute Resolution, which helps resolve disputes outside the courtroom and eases the burden of judicial backlogs.
Despite significant progress, serious challenges remain. Bureaucratic procedures often delay approvals, while millions in remote areas remain unaware of these free services. Systemic resource constraints, overburdened legal officers, and inconsistencies in the quality of legal representation further complicate the delivery of fair justice.
National Legal Aid Day thus serves as an important reminder of unfinished work. To transform accessible justice from a legislative promise into a lived reality, continuous reform, increased budgetary allocation, and modernised digital tracking systems are essential.
Md Bayazid Sheikh
Student
Gopalganj Science and Technology University