BSS, Dhaka
The government has provided free legal aid to 35,137 insolvent and helpless people in just three months from January to March, 2021, through National Legal Aid Services Organisation (NLASO).
Of the total number of beneficiaries in these three months, 10,963 received free legal aid through toll-free national helpline ‘16430’, NLASO sources said.
5,198 cases were disposed of through alternative dispute resolution, of which 4,446 were dealt at pre-case stage and 752 were disposed of after filing of the cases.
The NLASO is providing free legal aid in this ongoing corona pandemic situation also and the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office too remained operational throughout the time. Beside the toll-free helpline number, any justice seeker can avail free legal aid by dialing NLASO office number 01700-784270.
The Awami League government led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina formulated Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 to provide legal assistance to the people who are financially insolvent, penniless or unable to get justice because of various socio-economic reasons and formed NLASO.
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on the National Legal Aid Day on April 28, 2016, launched the toll-free helpline number service and it became more and more popular with the passing of time.
Apart from giving service through toll-free national helpline from 2016, the government in 2018 launched ‘BD Legal Aid App’ and justice seekers can download the app on their smartphone from Google Play Store and avail the service.
Legal aid activities are going on in the country’s Supreme Court from 2015 through the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office (SCLAO).
SCLAO is also providing the following services – legal advice, filing and dealing cases, expert opinion on the merit of the cases and bearing the actual cost of cases.
