Rights body gave legal aid to 558 accused in 10yrs

Rights organisation Legal Assistance to Helpless Prisoners and Persons (LAHP) has helped 558 accused in different cases in the last 10 years.

The organisation has been providing counselling to the accused who were released on bail. Steps were also taken to provide them with jobs so that they can lead decent lives, LAHP Chairman Advocate Toufika Karim said yesterday.

Toufika, also a Supreme Court lawyer , was speaking at a press conference at LAHP office in Dhaka. Rashadul Quasar Bhuiyan, LAHP general secretary, and Hira Talukdar, media adviser, also spoke on the occasion.

The organisation is providing legal assistance through its panel of lawyers to inmates under trial in 22 districts, Toufika said.

She said LAHP provides legal assistance to poor and unaided inmates, languishing in jail without trial in cases filed over petty crimes.