Legal aid to ensure justice to the poor

The shade of good administrative law largely relies on the expansion of legal aid concept. The emergence of legal aid bears etymological exhibition of judicial resort. No doubt, countries across the world resemble the term legal aid as judicial mechanism for providing all probable legal assistance to the underprivileged sections of society. Likewise, the Government of Bangladesh is leaving no stone unturned to launch such a trend in our society. The motive is pretty clear, bringing the deprived folk into the touch of justice, abiding by the ratification and international agenda signed by us. 

April 28 has been remarked as National legal aid day by the present Government of Bangladesh. This day contains a package of few sublime purposes. In the meanwhile, under the shade of legal aid organization, every Session Judge court of the country acts as office for the legal aid service.  

Under the scheme of legal aid issue, the underprivileged folk include any deported babies and women, acid victims, divorcee, dyeing and destitute, income-less or little earning people below 5000 Taka in a month, incapable sections to work and earn, disadvantaged persons owing to socio-economic menaces, natural calamities, VGD/VGF card holders and so on. However, the services contain free institution of suits both in civil and criminal matters, free supply of decree document and judgment copy, mediation and conciliation as to ADR (alternative disputes resolution), hot line service via phone conversation and all other awareness building mechanisms in grass root levels to all possible extent. 

Questions might appear on how much people know about this agenda or to what extent this aiding segment successfully touches the disadvantaged people. Here lies the necessity of awareness or consciousness. The more we can preach the notion of legal aid, more success stories of ensuring justice can be depicted. 

Students of law around the country can play pivotal role to popularize the concept of legal aid through their writings, engagements and movements. Campaigns on social networking sites can help to disseminate the information. National Legal Aid Services organization should conduct practical sessions like workshops, seminars in order to make this issue more highlighted.

Khairul Islam Taj 
Student of Law, University of Dhaka