Desk Report:
Prime Minister Tarique Rahman has said that the government has taken specific plans to ensure access to justice for the financially insolvent. He emphasized that the government’s goal is to ensure that no citizen is deprived of legal aid due to lack of money.
He made these remarks as the chief guest at the inauguration of the ‘National Legal Aid Day-2026’ at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in Shahbagh in the capital on Tuesday (April 28, 2026).
The Prime Minister said that justice is a constitutional right of every person. According to Article 27 of the Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law and are entitled to legal aid. He mentioned that this principle is also consistent with the United Nations Declaration.
He shared his own experience and said that he had to spend a long time in prison as a victim of political vendetta. During that time, he saw many people who were in prison for years without trial due to financial insolvency.
Referring justice as the foundation of progress and peace for the state and society, the Prime Minister said that equality, compassion and mutual trust are essential to build a non-discriminatory and humane society. She said that justice is not just a matter dependent on the courts; it needs to be reflected in the activities of every policy and institution of the state.
She further said that no country can be a humane state without the rule of law, justice and human rights. Noting that the country is moving towards democracy again after a long decade and a half, she said that there is no alternative to establishing the rule of justice to consolidate this journey.
The Prime Minister said that the government is providing assistance to the poor and suffering people through the Legal Aid Program, so that they can get help from lawyers. She said that justice is not just a court-centered process, but it is a living value, which is associated with protecting the dignity and rights of people.
Terming delay in justice as ‘denial of justice’, she said that to solve this problem, the government has introduced a system of dispute resolution through mediation before filing a case. Thousands of disputes have already been resolved in a short time and at a low cost, which is helping to reduce the pressure on the courts.
He also said that if legal advice is not received at the right time, small disputes become big. Therefore, the government is giving importance to strengthening legal aid activities.
Urging the people to have faith in the state, the Prime Minister said that legal aid will play an important role in establishing this faith that the state will be by their side in any need.
At the event, Sayem Khan of Dhaka and Neelima Biswas of Rajshahi received the award from the Prime Minister as the best panel lawyer. In addition, the ‘Social Empowerment and Legal Protection Program Cell’ of the non-governmental organization BRAC was nominated for special contribution. The organization’s Executive Director Asif Saleh received the award.
Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman, European Union Ambassador Michael Miller and Director General of the Department of Legal Aid Manjurul Hasan spoke at the event. The Prime Minister’s daughter Barrister Zaima Rahman and other guests were present.
