1.1
Background of the Research
Article 27 of the
constitution of the Peoples Republic of Bangladesh guarantees that "All
Citizens are equal before law and are entitled to equal protection of
law."
Article 33(1) of
the constitution entails that any person arrested shall be detained in custody without
being informed immediately the grounds for such right to consult would defend in
a legal practitioner of his choice. Despite such provisions, many people in
Bangladesh are deprived of their constitutional rights to access justice due to
poverty faced by them. Most of the people are not only poverty - but are also deprived
of minimum basic needs of life. Modern life and civilization are beckoning of
lack of knowledge keeps the indigent people illiterate and wants his still kept
them subjugated and ignorant of the litigants are unable to reach the doorsteps
of assuming and impectatcable often leaving the poor litigants to silently bear
the agonies of injustice.
In order to ensure
access to justice to the poor and indigent people, the government of Bangladesh
enacted the Legal Aid Services Act 2000 (LASA). Thereafter, National Legal Aid
Service Organization (NLASO) was established to implement the4 Government Legal
Aid Program across the country. NLASO provides legal aid to the poor litigants
who are incapable of seeking justice due to financial insolvency, destination,
helplessness and also for various socio-economic conditions. The general
directions and administration of the affairs and functions of NLASO is vested
in the national board of management which consist of 19 members and 13 chaired
by Hon'ble Minister, Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary affairs. There
are 64 districts legal aid committee (DLAC) through which (NLASO) implements
the Government Legal Aid Program at the district level.
DLAC maintains a
legal aid fund allocated by the amonut which is spent for poor litigants upon
their applications. There are upazilla and union level committees also working to
spread the legal aid programme at the grassroots level.[1]
