A district-level discussion meeting titled ‘The Role and Responsibilities of Legal Aid NGOs in Activating Village Courts’ was held in Sylhet.
The meeting, organized under the theme ‘For quick and affordable justice, let’s go to the Village Court’ took place on Wednesday (June 3) in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner’s Office.
The session was chaired by Padmasan Singha, Acting Deputy Director of the Local Government Division, Sylhet.
In his presidential address, Padmasan Singha said that the government had revitalized the activities of village courts as part of its long-term vision.
He emphasized that everyone must work sincerely to implement the government’s policies.
He noted that representatives of various NGOs work closely with large segments of the population and can therefore play an important role in raising awareness about village courts among grassroots communities. Such initiatives are crucial for informing citizens about the benefits of village courts and increasing awareness of their effectiveness.
He further stated that people should be made aware that many complex disputes can be resolved quickly and effectively through village courts.
Speaking as a special guest, Legal Analyst Moshiur Rahman Chowdhury gave a detailed presentation on the Village Court Act and related regulations.
He explained that under the Village Court Act, 2006, village courts were established in every union to provide simple and speedy resolution of certain civil and criminal disputes within their jurisdiction. The law stipulates that cases filed in village courts should be resolved within 90 days from the commencement of hearings.
Among those present were Assistant Commissioner Md Parvez, Assistant Commissioner Nazia Hossain, Deputy Director of the District Social Services Office Md Abdul Rafiq, Deputy Director of the Department of Women Affairs, Sylhet Shahina Akter, Sylhet Regional Manager of the Village Court Activation Project (3rd Phase) Shawkat Hasan and representatives of various NGOs. PID Sylhet