Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser Dr Asif Nazrul spoke at the inaugural function of National Legal Aid Day, 2025 at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital today. Photo : BSS

DHAKA, April 28, 2025 (BSS) - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Adviser 
Dr Asif Nazrul today said the government is working to ease 40 percent case 
backlog from the courts through legal aid.

"Around five lakh cases are filed each year in the country and of which 
around 35,000 get disposed of by the government legal aid. If we can take 
this figure to two lakh, the caseload in the courts will be reduced by about 
40 percent. It is being considered to make it mandatory to first go to 
government legal aid offices in cases involving family matters, cases filed 
under the Negotiable Instruments Act or minor compoundable criminal offences. 
Justice seekers can go to the court if they do not get remedy here," he said.

Asif Nazrul, who is also the chairman of the National Governing Board of the 
National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO), said these while addressing 
as the chief guest at the inaugural function of National Legal Aid Day, 2025 
at Osmani Memorial Auditorium in the capital.

The law adviser hoped that if these tasks can be done properly, the pressure 
of litigation and people's suffering will be significantly reduced.

He further said, "After assuming charge of the Ministry of Law, Justice and 
Parliamentary Affairs, our main goal has become to reduce delays in judicial 
work, save time and reduce cost. We have already started working for this. We 
are bringing some groundbreaking amendments to the code of civil procedure. 
We are working on the issues of hearing through affidavit, execution cases, 
and issuing summons. In addition, we are going to bring comprehensive 
amendments to the code of criminal procedure within the next one month. We 
are working to reduce the time and backlog of cases."

"Legal aid is a very important and innovative means of resolving disputes. We 
are dreaming big about legal aid, thinking completely differently. We have 
held meetings with legal service providers and concerned officials to take 
this sector forward," he added.

Highlighting the shortage of judges to provide services to legal aid 
organisations, Dr Asif Nazrul said, "We are thinking of increasing the number 
of judges in our district legal aid offices to three. According to our 
calculations, there are still several thousand retired district and sessions 
judges in the country who are still competent for the job, they have long 
experience in judicial work which will play a big role in making people keep 
faith in legal aid." 

"We are thinking of inducting them here. If we can do it, in the next six 
months, the legal aid offices will reach a level where it will be possible to 
handle one lakh cases per year. In this way, we will make necessary 
arrangements to handle two lakh cases in the next one year step by step," he 
added.

Conducted by NLASO Assistant Director (monitoring) Arifa Chowdhury Himel, the 
inaugural function was also attended among others, by German Ambassador to 
Bangladesh Achim Tr"ster, Supreme Court Registrar General Dr Aziz Ahmed 
Bhuiyan, Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) honorary Director 
Barrister Sara Hossain, judges and judicial officers, diplomats, foreign 
envoys and concerned officials.

Earlier at the start of the function, the law adviser inaugurated a legal aid 
fair and road show, which was attended by Law and Justice Division Secretary 
Sheikh Abu Taher and NLASO Director Syed Azad Subhani.

With the slogan "There is no joy in conflict, compromise brother, legal aid 
is by your side, no worries", the day is being observed throughout the 
country to ensure the rule of law, fundamental human rights and justice for 
everyone.

Various programmes including holding discussions and meetings, legal aid 
fairs, publication and distribution of magazines, souvenirs and posters have 
been organised at the district levels.