5.47 Lakh Received Free Legal Aid in 10 Years: Govt

The government provided legal aid to some 547,040 poor people free of cost in the last 10 years through the National Legal Aid Services Organization.

During the period from 2009 till February 2020, the organization had also been able to realize Tk 353,613,422 as compensation for the poor and destitute, said a press release on Monday.

It provided assistance to 384,823 people through district legal aid offices in all 64 districts during the last 10 years and provided legal assistance to 20,092 people through Supreme Court Legal Aid Office, 83,918 people through National Help Line call center, 18,207 people through Dhaka and Chattogram Workers Legal Assistance Providing Cell and disposed of 126,892 cases.

As per the directives of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Anisul Huq, the helpline call center of the National Legal Aid Services Organization is open for 24 hours a week for providing legal assistance to justice-seekers during the coronavirus situation.

Besides, the minister launched a digital legal aid application named ‘BD Legal Aid’ in October 2018 which helps people get legal assistance from their homes without any cost.

Source: UNB