Background of the establishment of the Legal Aid
Bangladesh is the third largest Muslim country in the world. Despite being inhabited by an absolute majority of Muslims, the country is being governed on the basis of the old British laws of the colonial period. The absence of Islamic law at the state level for the past two hundred and fifty years has led to many undesirable changes in the Muslim mind and way of life. Since Islamic law has not been properly practiced for a long time, questions are also being raised about its applicability. The attempts to create confusion in the public mind about Islamic law have increased compared to any previous time. The ignorance of Muslims about the superiority of Islamic law and the universal welfare has also increased. Therefore, there is a need to present the usefulness and practical power of Islamic law in view of the challenge of building a modern society and state through the coordinated efforts of people who are well versed in conventional and Islamic law. “The only Islamic law is capable of establishing justice and human rights on the basis of equality among all citizens of the country, regardless of race, religion, or color.” This is not only the belief of Muslims, but also the glorious past of Muslim rule in this regard. The ‘Bangladesh Islamic Law’ Research and Legal Aid Center’ was established in the context of guiding the present and future Muslims in the light of the past. Which is an essential demand of the times today.
Social unrest and increasing crime trends
With the development and ease of access to technology, a new dimension has been added to the world of crime in this country, like other countries of the world. The main reason for the increase in crime is the lack of moral values and the cultivation of immorality. The unhealthy competition in society is increasing through increasing drug addiction, smuggling, black marketing, extortion, political theft, banditry, state and a special class plunder. Along with this, the terrible form of torture of women, children and helpless citizens is appearing as the evil result of irreligion and materialism.
Complex judicial process and suffering of innocent people
Due to the lengthy judicial process, backlog of cases, and lack of transparency in the judicial process, there are various doubts in the public mind about the judicial system. The number of prisoners and detainees in prisons has been beyond the carrying capacity for more than two decades. In this Muslim-dominated country, only the Islamic judicial system can provide a practical, error-free and timely solution to all such problems.
Government’s perspective on legal aid
The Universal Declaration of Human Rights-1948 has ensured the right of people to protection by law, and the Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh has considered “the right to equality before the law” as a fundamental right of citizens. Despite constitutional guarantees, poor and helpless people are sometimes victims of discriminatory treatment and torture due to legal complications and procedural flaws. In this situation, several voluntary and charitable organizations have emerged to provide legal assistance to helpless litigants. The Bangladesh government is providing inspiration and support to such organizations in various ways. Keeping Islamic ideals in mind, the ‘Bangladesh Islamic Law’ Research and Legal Aid Center’ was born in 1995 to provide legal assistance to helpless people. Since its establishment, the legal aid department of the organization has been responding to the calls of the helpless poor and oppressed and trying to provide appropriate legal assistance.
Legal Aid: Instructions of Islam
The Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) declared – “Help your brother, whether he is an oppressor or an oppressed, that is, prevent the oppressor from being oppressed and help the oppressed to be free from oppression.” Oppression is multidimensional and omnipresent. In all situations, the oppressed are helpless, helpless and therefore in need of help. Anyone who is unjustly oppressed in the family, social, or state context is suitable for help. The Quran and Sunnah have urged the capable and capable to settle the dispute between the two parties. They have also instructed not to transgress, to make good recommendations, to give honest advice, to resolve conflicts, to express mutual sympathy and cooperation in any beneficial work.
Objectives of the Legal Aid Department
To ensure justice at all levels of society, to make necessary reforms in the existing judicial system and to provide legal aid to the oppressed and helpless.
The Legal Aid Department helps the following people
* Those who are financially insolvent, helpless and unable to approach the court of law due to various socio-economic reasons.
* Legal aid to helpless oppressed people.
* Legal aid to abused women and children.
* Those involved in false cases.
* The abused party in dowry cases.
* To obtain the release of those detained in prison without guilt or in false cases.
* To provide legal assistance to women who are in danger and in trouble due to legal reasons, and then to improve moral standards and rehabilitate them.
* To rehabilitate helpless women and children who are victims of trafficking, kidnapping and fraud.
* To provide necessary legal assistance to bring back the distressed to normal life after detention without trial and imprisonment.
* To develop helpless, homeless, dangerous, orphaned street children into employable status through moral and work-oriented education.
