Rajshahi: Speakers at a workshop here today unanimously agreed that integrated efforts by all concerned can be a crucial means of making village courts more gender-sensitive, inclusive, and people-friendly. Village courts have been ensuring justice for rural people and contributing to peace and harmony at the grassroots level, they said. The speakers added that the courts play a vital role in ensuring access to justice for rural women, allowing them to obtain justice easily and at low cost.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the district administration, as part of the implementation of the 'Activation of Village Court in Bangladesh (Third Phase)' project, organized the workshop at the conference hall of the Deputy Commissioner (DC) office to discuss and devise ways to achieve this goal. Deputy Commissioner of Rajshahi Afia Akhter addressed the session as the chief guest, while Deputy Director of Local Government Zakiul Islam presided over the workshop.
Additional District Magistrate Umme Kulsum Sampa, Additional Superintendent of Police Helena Akhter, Project District Manager Lutfor Rahman, and Coordinator Maruf Ahmed also spoke at the event. During his concept paper presentation, Lutfor Rahman explained that the village court is a semi-formal judicial system for resolving minor disputes at the local level.
The main aim of village courts, as highlighted, is to provide rural communities with accessible, affordable, and speedy justice for minor civil and criminal disputes by settling them locally. This approach helps in reducing the burden on formal courts and fosters social peace. DC Afia Akhter emphasized that the village courts work to provide the rural poor, women, and other vulnerable groups with a local and accessible justice system, which is often intimidating and costly in formal courts.