Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman on Tuesday said the government is considering enacting a law to make it mandatory for every lawyer to conduct at least 10 per cent of their total cases free of charge.
Asaduzzaman emphasised that to reduce the backlog of more than 4 million cases pending in the lower courts, the provision of free legal aid must be made more effective. Drawing a parallel with medical science, he noted, “Preventive is better than cure.”
He explained that while reducing the 4 million pending cases constitutes a “curing mechanism,” preventing the tendency to file court cases through legal aid and mediation would serve as a “preventive measure.”
Asaduzzaman made these remarks as the chief guest at a discussion meeting held on Tuesday evening, 28 April, at the Supreme Court Auditorium to mark National Legal Aid Day. The programme, titled “Government-funded dispute resolution, Bangladesh first,” was organised by the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee.
The law minister expressed the government’s desire for the legal aid programme to reach the doorstep of every citizen in Bangladesh to ensure they receive justice.
He also highlighted the financial disparity within the judiciary, noting that while Tk 15,000 crore in tax is collected from the judicial sector annually, the budget for the judiciary is only Tk 2,200 crore, which is less than the budget for BTV.
He stressed that this reflects the “poverty” of the country’s judiciary and called for a budget increase.
The event was presided over by Justice Kazi Zinat Hoque, Chairperson of the Supreme Court Legal Aid Committee. Justice Farah Mahbub of the Appellate Division spoke as a special guest.
Other notable speakers included Attorney General Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, Supreme Court Registrar General Habibur Rahman Siddiquee, Director General of the National Legal Aid Services Organization Md Monjurul Hossain, and Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon MP, president of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
