National Legal Aid Day was observed in Chattogram with enthusiasm under the theme, “End Disputes at Government Expense, Bangladesh First.”
The District Legal Aid Committee organized a colorful rally, Legal Aid Fair, and discussion meeting at the Chattogram Judge Court premises on Tuesday morning.
Chattogram Divisional Commissioner Dr. Md. Ziauddin, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Zahidul Islam Miah, senior officials from various government departments, members of the judiciary, journalists, beneficiaries, and distinguished citizens took part in the rally.
The chief guest at the discussion meeting was Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Hasanul Islam. He said the government has undertaken various initiatives to make legal aid activities more effective and accessible to people at their doorsteps. As part of this effort, steps have been taken to make pre-case mediation mandatory in some cases through amendments to the law, although it has not yet been fully implemented in Chattogram.
He said the authorities are working tirelessly to ensure that justice seekers receive quick and effective results through online activities and field-level monitoring.
Md. Hasanul Islam said, the simplified helpline number 16699 has been introduced to increase public participation and awareness regarding legal aid services, making it more user-friendly than before. He urged all government and private institutions to display the number on their notice boards.
He also called for public cooperation so that the number becomes as widely known as the emergency hotline 999.
At the meeting, a presentation on the activities of Legal Aid in 2025 was delivered. Later, several beneficiaries shared their experiences regarding the services they received.
The meeting was chaired by President of the District Legal Aid Committee and Acting District and Sessions Judge Muhammad Abdul Halim. Among others, Additional Police Commissioner Hossain Mohammad Kabir Bhuiyan, Chief Metropolitan Magistrate A.G.M. Monirul Hasan Sarkar, Chief Judicial Magistrate Md. Sohag Talukder, Additional District Magistrate Syed Mahbubul Haque, DC Prosecution Hasanullah Chowdhury, and Bar Association President Abdus Sattar also spoke.
Senior officials of various government institutions, beneficiaries, general citizens, and journalists from print and electronic media were present at the program.
