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DHAKA: Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman has stressed the need to institutionalise paralegal services to ensure access to justice for marginalised and disadvantaged people across Bangladesh.
He said a consensus on formulating a policy framework and action plan for paralegal services would provide clear direction for future initiatives, emphasising coordinated efforts by the government and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The minister made the remarks as the chief guest at an international conference titled “Paralegal Advisory Services for Building a People-Friendly Justice System” at the Bangladesh-China Friendship Conference Centre in Dhaka on Saturday.
Michael Krätke, head of cooperation at the European Union Delegation to Bangladesh, and German Ambassador to Bangladesh Dr Rüdiger Lotz also addressed the conference, among others.
Asaduzzaman said paralegals could play a significant role in ensuring justice for ordinary people while easing pressure on courts and prisons, a contribution that had already been demonstrated.
Institutionalising paralegal services would make legal assistance more accessible to marginalised and disadvantaged communities, he added.
Expressing gratitude to the German government, the European Union and the German development agency GIZ for supporting the initiative, the minister said their continued cooperation was important to efforts to simplify access to legal services and establish paralegal services on a formal footing in Bangladesh.
The conference discussed a proposed policy framework and action plan to determine the future structure of paralegal services. Key issues included formal recognition of paralegals, partnerships between the government and NGOs, professional skills training, service quality standards and sustainable funding.
The two-day conference was organised by the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs and the Department of Legal Aid under the ministry. Senior government officials, judicial representatives, legal aid organisations, civil society members and development partners attended the event.
Experts from Malawi, the Philippines and Kyrgyzstan also shared their countries’ experiences of integrating paralegal services into their respective justice systems.