After intensive follow-up to the report drawn up on the basis of the conclusions, the Advisory Committee recommended the adoption and publication of the Legal Aid Regulation 2015. The publication of the Regulation as a communication of the Official Gazette paved the way for a new start on the road to granting legal aid to the highest court in the country. The recently published Official Gazette contains issues relating to the increase in lawyers` fees, jurisdiction to adjudicate cases and other related matters. In April 2022, the High Commission of Canada in Dhaka sought legal aid from Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust and Ain O Salish Kendra for legal aid for a 19-year-old Canadian woman prevented by her family from leaving Bangladesh. [10] Sara Hossain and Zi Khan Panna, on behalf of both organizations, filed an application with the High Court ordering the woman to remain with her parents while the parents were ordered to return their communication devices during the probationary period. [10] Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust, in collaboration with Naripokkho, the Manusher Jonno Foundation, and BRAC Human Rights and Legal Aid Services, introduced a public bill questioning the legality and constitutionality of Bangladeshi law, which only identifies women as rape victims. [9] Legal aid is the provision of assistance to poor and destitute litigants in legal matters, both inside and outside the courts. Legal aid is a system of public funding for those who cannot afford advice, support and representation. Legal practitioners use the term “legal aid” to give advice on any legal matter, to pay fees to a leader/conciliator/arbitrator, to provide financial assistance to cover the costs of the case, to defend a person in court. Legal aid is the provision of assistance to people who would not otherwise be able to afford legal aid and access the justice system. Legal aid is considered essential to ensure access to justice by guaranteeing equality before the law, the right of access to a lawyer and the right to a fair trial.

BLAST`s mission is to make the legal system accessible to the poor and marginalized. BLAST envisions a society based on the rule of law in which every individual, including the poor, marginalised and marginalised, especially women, children, persons with disabilities, Adivasis and Dalits, has access to justice and ensures that their human rights are respected and protected. This official body of the Supreme Court`s Legal Aid Office ensures that legal aid is available to the poor and needy. Any eligible applicant can now benefit from free legal aid by submitting an application to the Legal Aid Office of the Supreme Court. After examination of the application, a lawyer is appointed to represent the applicant free of charge. The government pays the fees directly to the lawyer. The Supreme Court Legal Aid Office is now available for civil, criminal, pleadings and other cases. Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (Bengali: বাংলাদেশ লিগ্যাল এইড এ্যান্ড সার্ভিসেস ট্রাস্ট) is one of the largest legal aid organisations in Bangladesh.

[1] [2] The Trust provides legal aid, a mediation centre, legal assistance and files laws in the public interest. [3] [4] The organization`s headquarters are located in Dhaka with 19 branches. [3] Sara Hossain is the Executive Director of the Trust. [5] BLAST is one of the leading legal aid organizations in Bangladesh and the only one to provide access to legal aid in all areas, from the front line of the formal court system to the Supreme Court. It prioritises support for women, men and children living in poverty or facing disadvantage or discrimination. It also provides legal assistance, advice and representation in various areas, including civil, criminal, family, labour and land law, as well as constitutional rights and remedies, and provides access to judicial remedies as well as alternative dispute resolution where appropriate. In addition to individual legal aid, BLAST conducts strategic litigation or litigation in the public interest as part of its advocacy for legal and policy reforms to ensure effective legal protection. Even after the adoption of the Legal Aid Act 2000, it was not possible to provide services to claimants of justice because there were no necessary rules for the granting of legal aid by the highest court in the land. In 2010, the National Legal Aid Service Organization provided only prison appeals to socially and financially vulnerable people through 37 lawyers who joined the council. Subsequently, the National Organization of Legal Aid Service (NLASO) and the Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF) jointly took the initiative to conduct an investigation into how legal aid could be granted by the government, and therefore commissioned lawyer Tanjib-ul-Alam to conduct the investigation and subsequently submitted the study paper. In addition, an advisory committee has been established, chaired by the Director of the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NSLA).

BLAST has proven expertise in providing legal assistance to poor and disadvantaged clients and has handled approximately 80,000 cases to date. Over the years, out of 1,75,000 requests for legal assistance, BLAST has responded to approximately 40,000 requests by resolving them through mediation. He has also filed some 132 public interest cases with the Supreme Court of Bangladesh as part of his advocacy for legal and policy reforms to remove institutional barriers to justice. It regularly conducts awareness-raising programmes on the legal rights of community members in their areas of work, including family law, criminal law and land law. It also participates in regular coordination meetings with local administrators, in particular key actors in the judiciary, including members of the judiciary and the legal profession, as well as civil society organizations. BLAST currently operates in 21 districts across the country and works through its employed lawyers (paralegals and researchers) at headquarters and in each district unit in collaboration with its recruited panel of approximately 2600 lawyers across the country who provide clients with legal remedies on a pro bono basis with minimal fees. A panel of lawyers practicing at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh also conducts litigation and advocates for legal and policy reform. BLAST is governed by a Board of Directors composed of respected lawyers, lawyers and human rights defenders with experience in the national and international protection of human rights and leading the organisation decisively. It is also supported by an advisory group of young professionals, including researchers, lawyers and human rights defenders. It maintains close relations with bar associations at all levels, including through its administrative committees, composed of the leaders of the bar association of each district. Established in 1993, the Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust (BLAST) is a non-governmental organization dedicated to making the legal system accessible to the poor and marginalized, providing legal services in 25 districts of Bangladesh. He conducts research, advocacy and litigation in the public interest for legal, policy and institutional reforms to ensure effective legal protection.

Some of her litigation and advocacy work focuses on issues of child marriage, violence against women, labour rights, gender identity, and discrimination based on religion, caste, occupation, and disability. BLAST currently operates in 19 districts across the country and works through its staff attorneys (paralegals and researchers) at headquarters and in each district unit in collaboration with its recruited panel of approximately 2300 attorneys across the country who provide legal remedies to clients on a pro bono basis with minimal fees. A panel of lawyers practicing at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh also conducts litigation and advocates for legal and policy reform. On 8 September 2015, the Honourable Chief Justice of Bangladesh officially inaugurated the Legal Aid Office of the Supreme Court. USAID`s Justice for All program and the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) hosted the opening ceremony of the Supreme Court Office of Legal Aid. শ্রমিক জিজ্ঞাসা মোবাইল অ্যাপSromik Jigyasha Mobile App The Supreme Court Legal Aid Office also provides the following services: BLAST and other United States Bangladesh and others (TAMPACO fire and collapse case) Petition No. 12182 OF THE 2016 UPDATE: PIL on “Two-Finger Test”, WP 10663/2013, BLAST v Bangladesh and others- High Court accepted expert evidence on two-finger test on rape victims and accepted the opinions of the The experts were instructed to submit a written report to the High Court within the next three months.