Law Minister Anisul Huq today urged the deputy attorney generals (DAGs) who were appointed before 2017 to resign from their office for the sake of new appointment of DAGs.

“As the process for appointment of new deputy attorney generals will start soon, they (DAGs appointed before 2017) will have to resign. I have earlier talked to the attorney general to take a step in this regard. But, I have not got any resignation letter. I will take an initiative soon to this effect,” he said.

He said this while talking to reporters after attending as chief gust to the inauguration of a training course titled as “Restorative Justice” for the legal aid officers at Judicial Administration Training Institute (JATI).

There are an attorney general, two additional attorney generals, 67 DAGs and 106 assistant attorney generals for moving the cases on behalf of the state before the Appellate and High Court Divisions of the Supreme Court. Of total 67 DAGs, 35 ones had been appointed before 2017, AG office sources said.

Earlier in the day, the law minister told the inauguration meeting that access to justice is a fundamental right of the people and is a fundamental principle of rule of law.

The present government believes that the all people have equal right to get justice, he said, adding that but, it is difficult for a large section of justice seekers, who are in backward financially and socially, to get legal advice and to ensure legal representation.

Considering the situation, the government has formulated the Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 in order to provide legal aid for the poor people so that they get justice, Minister Anisul Huq said.    

Law Secretary ASSM Zahirul Haque Dulal presided over the meeting where JATI Director General Justice Khandker Musa Khaled, among others, spoke.