Over 1700 poor get BLAST\\\'s legal aid service, British envoy told

SYLHET, July 9: Acting British High Commissioner to Bangladesh Mark Clayton said Legal aid services to the poor especially those who live in the rural areas should be expanded further.
The envoy was holding a meeting with Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST), Sylhet chapter officials at the high commission's regional liason office in Sylhte city Wednesday afternoon.
It was also attended by the representatives from the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) and BLAST head office. Sylhet district Bar Association president AKM Shomiul Alam, also the Blast unit chair attended.
The officials said as a leading organisation BLAST has been playing a good role in Sylhet region through providing support to women, men and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination.
Regional Coordinator Irfanuaman Chowdhury told the meeting during the last 6 months, i.e January to June this year 120 complaints, including 115 from women were received while 31 mediation cases were settled out of  67 filed for. Tk 747,000 were also realised in favour of the 31 victims, he informed,  80 cases under family laws were also filed during the period while 57 were settled by court.
The total number of beneficiary stood and 1716 persons, the meeting was told.  
Blast's Researcher & Documentation coordinator Ishita Dutta gave a detailed presentation.
BLAST works through its panel lawyers (and paralegals and researchers) in Sylhet unit, chowdhury said.
Expressing his satisfactionover the performance, the acting high commissioner said BLAST has gained proven expertise in providing legal aid to poor and disadvantaged clients for years.
The British government provides financial assistance for legal aid in Bangladesh through MJF.
High commission's Consular head Hasina Rahman and Sylhet liaison office coordinator Rahin Moin Chowdhury, MJF's programme manager Ruma Sultana and Blast's senior Deputy Director Shahriar Parvin were present.
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