Rajshahi: Speakers at a discussion in Rajshahi today urged lawyers and relevant stakeholders to work sincerely to ensure legal aid for grassroots, poor, distressed, and other underprivileged litigants. Emphasizing that all citizens are equal before the law, they stressed that access to legal support should be guaranteed for everyone, particularly the marginalized.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, the observations came during a view-sharing meeting with public prosecutors (PPs), additional public prosecutors (APPs), lawyers, and civil society members. The meeting was jointly organized by Khan Foundation and Samata Nari Kolyan Sangstha (SNKS) at SK Food World, with support from Lady's Organizations for Social Change (LOFS). LOFS Executive Director Shahnaz Parveen chaired the session.
Among the speakers were APPs Kaniz Fatema and Sakhina Khatun, and lawyers Dina Layla, Mahamudur Rahman, Ismat Ara Shila, Aziza Sultana, and Nusrat Mehjabin. They called for prioritizing legal aid cases to expedite their disposal, ensuring justice for distressed communities. The speakers unanimously stressed the importance of coordinated efforts from all quarters to guarantee access to justice for the disadvantaged.
Legal practitioners highlighted that introducing dynamism into legal aid services could effectively achieve this goal. They noted that ensuring legal aid for underprivileged people requires not only the judiciary but also a comprehensive and collaborative approach. Furthermore, they emphasized the need to extend legal services to the grassroots level and protect the fundamental rights of the poor and distressed.