Ensure poor prisoners have legal aid
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday asked the law minister to take special measures for collecting information about the poor prisoners unnecessarily languishing in jails and make arrangement for their release.
“There are many poor and helpless prisoners in jails and they've been languishing there for years in various cases though they don't exactly know what their offences are, or don't have the financial capacity to have legal aid,” she said.
Hasina was addressing the inaugural function of the National Legal Aid Services Day 2016 at the Institution of Engineers, Bangladesh in the city. The day is observed on April 28 every year.
Reaffirming that her government's aim is to protect the basic rights of poor people, the PM said her government has taken steps to ensure legal aid services at the grassroots level. “Many poor people languish in jail and they don't know how to get legal aid and how to get their cases settled,” she bemoaned.
Hasina said the National Legal Aid Service Organisation could extend their support to those staying in jails without any specific charges. “These people do not need to stay in jails without any reason or without specific charges.”
She said the aim of her government is to ensure the rule of law as well as protect poor people from injustice and deprivation and ensure their rights.
The PM also inaugurated the national helpline call centre of the national legal aid service through talking to a female official over the phone. The legal aid seekers could avail themselves of free services from the helpline round the clock dialling 16430 or sending SMS.
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