Biplab Das, Boalkhali (Chattogram)

 

The village court has been launched to resolve local disputes locally at a low cost in a short time. UNO  of Boalkhali  Mohammad Rahmat Ullah highlighted the need for widespread publicity about this service of the village court.

 

The monthly GO-NGO coordination meeting was held at the office of the UNO of Boalkhali Upazila on Tuesday at 11.30 am.

 

Small criminal and civil cases are settled through the village court. In the case of civil cases, there is an opportunity to get judicial services at the Union Parishad by paying a fee of 20 taka and for criminal cases, only 10 taka.

 

A village court is formed by nominating two members of the union council and two esteemed persons on behalf of both the applicant and the defendant in a union council case. The chairman of the union council is considered the chairman of the village court. If there is a question about the impartiality of the chairman, the chairman has the opportunity to transfer the responsibility and appoint a judge of his choice under the village court law. It is possible to ensure justice through the village court of the union council with the chairman and the 4 nominated members. 

 

As a result, the people seeking justice can solve their problems in their own areas. The backward people of the villages are still not aware of all these services provided through the village court. As a result, they waste money and time going to the police station and district court to solve local problems, and they are subjected to various sufferings. Especially women have found the village court near their homes to solve their problems. Women are also less likely to come to the village court to avail the services because they do not know about this service. He said that the village court has a connection with the high court. The high court case can be sent to the village court and then sent to the high court from the village court. This is now one of the government services in the union parishad. Therefore, joint efforts should be taken to activate the village court. He called on all NGOs working in Boalkhali district to take initiatives for widespread publicity regarding this government service. He also said that all NGOs are working with the backward communities of the villages. They organize regular meetings, training orientations with them. He instructed the people who come to these events to discuss the services of the village court. Finally, he distributed leaflets to everyone for the purpose of publicity of the village court. Among others present at the meeting were Mr. Sujan Kanti, Upazila Project Implementation Officer as Member Secretary, Md. Mohin Uddin, representative of non-governmental development organization BRAC, Mr. Bibhashan Acharya, representative of Uddipan, Mr. Md. Sohel Rana, manager of Pratashi, Md. Kabir Uddin, manager of Popi, Md. Raihan, manager of Coast Foundation, Md. Humayun Kabir of SDI, Ankhi Barua, Upazila Coordinator of Village Court Activation Project in Bangladesh and IPSAR, and representatives of 14 organizations.