National Legal Aid Day observed

National Legal Aid Services Day was observed Friday across the country with a view to ensuring the rule of law, fundamen-tal human rights and justice for everyone.

This year's theme of the day is "Fulfillment of Bangabandhu's dream, opening the door to free legal services".

According to Article 27 of the Constitution of the People's Republic of Bangladesh, all are equal before the law and all are entitled to equal protection of the law. In order to make this right a reality, the 'National Legal Aid Provision Act 2000' has been enacted.

In Manikganj, a discussion was held at the conference room of the District Judge Court with District and Sessions Judge Joyosree Samaddar in the chair.

The function was addressed, among others, by Additional District and Sessions Judge Sabina Yeasmin, Chief Judicial Magis-trate Utpal Bhattacharya, Additional Deputy Magistrate (ADM) Sanjida Jesmin, Legal Aid Officer Subarna Sejuti, Civil Sur-geon Dr Moazzem Ali Khan Chowdhury, Manikganj Municipality Mayor Md Ramjan Ali, Public Prosecutor (PP) Abdus Salam, GP Meher Uddin, President of District Lawyers' Association Mesbaul Haque Mesba and its General Secretary AFM Nurtaj Alam Bahar.

Joyosree Samaddar said the National Legal Aid Agency has established itself as a place of trust for the poor and helpless litigants.

A colourful rally was brought out from the premises of the District Judge Court here and ended at the same venue after pa-rading the main roads of the town.

A large number of people including all judges of the district Judgeship, Chief Judicial Magistrate, Lawyers, officials and NGO representatives bearing colour festoons, banners and balloons participated in the programmes.

In Lakhsmipur, marking the day, a colourful rally was brought out from the premises of the district judge court and ended at the same venue after parading the main roads of the town.

After the rally, a discussion was held in the district judge's court premises yesterday morning.

District Legal Aid Committee Chairman and Senior District and Sessions Judge Rahibul Islam presided over the function.

Joint District and Sessions Judge Nurul Afchar moderated the discussion. Deputy Commissioner (DC) Md Anwar Hossain Akand, Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Sadekur Rahman, Superintendent of Police Md Mah-fuzzaman Ashraf, Zilla Parishad chairman Bir Muktijoddha Md Shahjahan, Additional District and Sessions Judge Syeda Ami-na Fahim, Chief Judicial Magistrate Mominul Islam, civil surgeon Dr Ahmed Kabir, District and Sessions Judge Court Public Prosecutor (PP) Jasim Uddin, District Bar Association President Advocate Ahmed Ferdous Manik, its General Secretary Ha-san Al Mahmud and District Legal Aid Officer Umme Bibi Neetu, among others, were present.

In Sunamganj, a rally was brought out from the premises of the district judge court and ended at the Hashanraja Auditorium of the Zila Shilpakala Academy after parading the main roads of the town.

After the rally, a discussion was held at the Hashanraja Auditorium of the Zila Shilpakala Academy in the morning.

Senior District and Sessions Judge Md Hemayet Uddin presided over the function. Legal Aid Committee General Secretary Sulekha Dey moderated the discussion.

Women and Children Repression Prevention Tribunal Judge Md Zakir Hossain, Chief Judicial Magistrate Rukon Uddin Md Kabir, Additional District Magistrate AKM Abdullah Bin Rashid, Civil Surgeon Dr Ahmed Ali, Superintendent of Police Md Ehsan Shah, Deputy Director of District Information Office Md Abdus Chattar, District Bar Association President Advocate Taibur Rahman Babul and its General Secretary Abdul Haque, among others, spoke on the occasion.

In Netrakona, the District Legal Aid Committee took various programmes marking the day.

As part of the programmes, a colourful rally was brought out from the district judge court premises in the morning that ended at the same place after parading the main streets of the town.

The rally was followed by a meeting on the district judge’s court premises. District Legal Aid Committee chairman and sen-ior district and sessions judge Mohammad Shajahan Kabir presided over the function.

The meeting was addressed, among others, by judge of the district women and children repression prevention tribunal court Mohammad Iftekhar Bin Aziz, chairman of Netrakona zila parishad Asit Kumar Sarker Sajal, superintendent of police Mohammad Foyaz Ahmed, chief judicial magistrate Mustak Ahmed, additional district magistrate Mohammad Ashik Nur, mayor of Netrakona municipality Nazrul Islam Khan and president of Awami League Netrakona district unit Advocate Amir-ul Islam.