Call to expedite legal aid services to poor, helpless

RAJSHAHI, Mar 4 (BSS): Speakers at the inaugural session of a three-day training here Friday underscored the need for expediting the legal aid activities towards the poor and helpless victims. In this regard, they emphasised the need for concerted efforts by all quarters to ensure access to justice of the distressed and disadvantaged people. They, however, viewed that infusing dynamism in the legal aid services in the district-level could be the effective means of attaining the cherished goal. National Legal Aid Organisation (NLAO) and Bangladesh Legal Reform Project (BLRP) jointly organised the legal aid management training at Asrai Training Centre. Secretary-in-charge of Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs ministry Shahidul Karim addressed the session as the chief guest with District and Sessions Judge Abdus Samad in the chair. Deputy Secretary Abu Saleh Jahirul Haque, NLAO Director Syed Aminul Islam, Chief Metropolitan Magi­strate Mominur Rahman Chowdhury, Chief Judicial Magistrate Abu Muhammad Aminul Ehsan, Yean Moris of BLRP and Senior Development Adviser of SIDA Silvia Islam also spoke as special guests. The speakers said the legal aid services should be intensified for the welfare of the underprivileged people and sought all-out cooperation from all quarters in this regard. Besides, they said the campaign should go further so that all the repressed and oppressed women and children could be brought under the legal aid services. Some 20 legal aid staff from different districts of the region are participating in the training.