DHAKA, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - A total of 29,979 workers have so far received legal services at government expense through the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO), according to the latest report published on the organization's website. The report highlights a comprehensive overview of legal assistance provided through the legal aid programme from 2009 to January 2026. It said the initiative initially began at the district level to provide legal support to financially insolvent and underprivileged people. Later, to better protect workers' rights, dedicated "Workers' Legal Aid Cells" were established in Dhaka and Chattogram. Through these cells, a total of 29,979 workers received legal assistance until January 2026, the report said. Of them, 22,056 workers were provided with direct legal advice and consultation services. According to the statistics, legal assistance initiatives were undertaken in 4,614 cases so far, of which 820 have already been disposed of. The report also highlighted the importance of Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms in settling disputes outside the court system. It said ADR initiatives were taken in 3,309 cases, among which 1,920 cases were successfully resolved. Under the Legal Aid Services Act, the government provides legal assistance at its own expense to financially insolvent, helpless and justice-seeking people. The National Legal Aid Services Organization is implementing the programme under the Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.  

RAJSHAHI, March 8, 2026 (BSS) - Mukitu Islam Nishat, a 21-year-old young man from a remote village in the Puthia Police Station area of Rajshahi, has emerged as a rising talent from Bangladesh in the international technology arena. Turning his childhood fascination with computers into remarkable success through dedication and hard work, Nishat has won the prestigious Outreachy Fellowship 2026, securing the 13th position among top competitors from across the country. Nishat's interest in technology began at an early age. While many children of his age spent their time playing games, Nishat, then a second-grade student, spent hours exploring his first computer. His journey into the world of programming started when he was in seventh grade. Without attending any well-known training institute, he built his programming skills mainly through self-learning, especially by following tutorials on YouTube. His experience shows that strong determination and eagerness to learn can overcome many limitations. Nishat said his family played a crucial role in his success. His father always dreamed that his son would one day achieve global recognition, while his mother acted as both a strict guide and a constant source of inspiration. Her encouragement helped him maintain a balance between his academic studies and coding practice. "At every step of my success today, there is the endless mercy of the Almighty and the prayers of my mother," Nishat said. Through the Outreachy Fellowship, Nishat is now contributing to international open-source software projects. Apart from academic learning, he has also developed several software solutions aimed at addressing practical problems and supporting economic activities. Among his innovations is a tax management solution designed to help prevent tax evasion and simplify complex calculations for businesses. He has also developed a Fish Farm Management System that enables fish farmers to monitor their ponds and automatically calculate profits and losses using modern digital methods, which could help strengthen the rural economy. In addition, Nishat has created a complete e-commerce system to support the growing demands of online businesses. Currently, Nishat, a student of Computer Science and Engineering (CSE) at North Bengal International University, is preparing to participate in the Google Summer of Code 2026 programme. However, he said his goal goes beyond personal success. Nishat hopes to inspire more young people to pursue careers in programming and technology. He plans to teach programming free of cost to young learners so that a skilled generation can emerge and help showcase Bangladesh's technological talent on the global stage. From a small village in Puthia to the international technology community, Nishat's journey is inspiring many young people in the country to dream big and work hard to achieve their goals.