Judges, lawyers urged to provide legal assistance to poor litigants

Minister for Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Barrister Shafique Ahmed has urged the judges and lawyers to provide legal assistance to the poor litigants who are incapable of bearing the costs. The law minister said this, while speaking at a seminar on 'Criminal Procedure Amendment and Government Legal Aid Programme" organised by Legislative and Parliamentary Affairs Department of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs ministry at a city hotel Saturday, reports UNB. State Minister for the ministry Advocate Md Kamrul Islam, chairperson of Jatiya Mohila Sangstha Mamtaj Begum, director of National Legal Aid Organisation Syed Aminul Haq and district judges of different districts spoke on the occasion. The minister said the government has taken initiatives to strengthen the programme for proving legal assistance to poor litigants to ensure basic rights for all citizens. "But the main responsibility of implementing the programmage falls on the judges and lawyers. They must have a kind mind for implementing the programme"' he said. Mr Ahmed mentioned that the present government has established Legal Aid Directorate to expedite the government programme of providing legal assistance to the poor litigants. He also stressed on raising consciousness among people over the government's legal aid programme, review on the progress of the programme and ensure proper use of the fund allocated for it.