Follow alternative resolution system

All pending cases cannot be disposed of amid the current rush of filing unless those are settled outside courts, said Law Minister Anisul Huq yesterday.

In this regard, he urged the district judges to follow alternative dispute resolution (ADR) system in a bid to reduce a huge backlog of pending cases.

The law minister was speaking as chief guest at a conference in Dhaka for the district judges on strengthening the government legal aid service and good governance.

National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) under the law ministry organised the event at InterContinental hotel.

A total of 19,018 cases were disposed of through ADR in last few years, said the law minister, adding that the rate of such disposal must be increased.

Anisul Huq said the government has been continuing legal aid activities across the country through forming legal aid committees at all the districts to ensure the access to justice for all the citizens by 2030.

He said realisation of the spirit of Liberation War and the dream of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and the goal for sustainable development depend on the success of government legal aid functions.

Law Secretary Md Golam Sarwar told the event that NLASO has so far provided legal aid to 4,78,858 justice seekers since 2009 and collected Tk 28.85 crore as compensation through ADR.

Acting director of NLASO AHM Habibur Rahman Bhuiyan presided over the conference where deputy resident representative of UNDP Bangladesh Van Nguyen also spoke.