Accra:A city hotel Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has called for the enhancement of legal aid services to facilitate easier access to justice for marginalized communities and to alleviate the burden on the judicial system. He stressed that eliminating obstacles to justice is crucial for establishing a fair and equitable society.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the minister urged chief legal aid officers to carry out their responsibilities with dedication, competence, and a commitment to public service. Addressing a certificate distribution ceremony marking the end of a three-day training program for chief legal aid officers, he highlighted the importance of engaging directly with marginalized communities. This engagement, he noted, would enrich the officers' professional knowledge and improve the quality of their future judicial judgments.
Md Asaduzzaman emphasized that the experience gained by officials in understanding the challenges faced by ordinary people through legal aid programs would enhance their judicial insights. He pointed out that while judges serve justice by exercising the state's sovereign power, officials in legal aid programs are vital in eliminating barriers to justice. This effort, he added, would contribute to speeding up judicial proceedings and help build an effective, justice-based judicial system for future generations.
The minister expressed gratitude to the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) for supporting the training program. He called on all parties to work collectively towards creating a beautiful and livable Bangladesh for future generations, urging legal aid officers to approach their duties with diligence, intellect, wisdom, and dedication.
The program was chaired by Md Manjurul Hossain, Director General of the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid (DBLA), and attended by special guests Takuro Fujioka, chief adviser of JICA's Access to Justice Project, and Law and Justice Division Additional Secretary SM Ershadul Alam. The training was conducted for the first time for chief legal aid officers, with a total of 33 participants.