A departmental conference was held today at the Mymensingh City Corporation Auditorium to activate the village court. Photo : BSS

MYMENSINGH, Feb 8, 2025 (BSS) - A divisional conference was held today on the role of local administration in activating village courts in Mymensingh division to ensure speedy justice at the grassroots.

Mymensingh Divisional Commissioner's Office and the Local Government Department organised the conference this morning at Shaheed Shahabuddin Auditorium of the City Corporation.

Chaired by Divisional Commissioner Md. Mokhtar Ahmed, Additional Secretary of the Local Government Department and National Project Director of the Village Court Activation Project in Bangladesh A.K.M. Tariqul Alam was present as chief guest.

At the beginning of the conference, Bibhas Chakraborty, National Coordinator of the project said the activities of activating village courts are underway in 351 unions of 35 upazilas in Mymensingh division.

So far, 4,879 cases have been filed in the village court, out of which 4,804 cases have been settled. 

Bibhas Chakraborty said that Taka 5.87 crore has been collected as compensation as a result of the settlement of the cases through judicial proceedings.

He also said that training and orientation have been provided to ASIOs in 128 unions of Mymensingh division to improve their skills.

In addition, 22 village court management committee meetings have been held in 21 upazilas. 

Chief guest A.K.M. Tarikul Alam said, "The village court is an effective judicial medium that is playing an important role in establishing speedy justice at the grassroots level."

He instructed local administration officials to further strengthen the village court activities.

He also said, "The generation that we used to think was addicted to mobile phones is today building a discrimination-free Bangladesh, giving the gift of an independent Bangladesh once again. Therefore, the chairmen must be responsible for establishing justice at the local level."

The Village Court Activation Project was launched in 2009 with the support of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union. Currently, the project is operating at 4,453 unions of 61 districts of the country.