Ashraful Islam Joy:

Muhammad Nazrul Islam, Deputy Commissioner (DC) in Sirajganj said, “The village court programme has now turned into an important means for ensuring justice at the union level. Such court has been established with the aim to provide easy, low-cost and timely judicial services to the rural community.”

He came up with the remarks, while addressing a two-day training workshop on ‘Village Court’ with the members of different Union Parishads at Upazila Parishad’s Auditorium in Sirajganj town on Wednesday.

The training programme was organized by the Local Government Department and the ‘Village Court Activation (Phase-II) Project’ of UNDP with the aim to enhance legal knowledge and skills for the members of different Union Parishads in Sirajganj Sadar upazila.

Photo: TDS

The DC also said, “Through this today’s training workshop, the public representatives will gain a clearer understanding of their responsibilities, duties and legal framework, which will be helpful in running the village courts more effectively.”

Md. Monowar Hossain, UNO of Sadar Upazila presided over the training programme, while Deputy Director of Local Government Department Mohammad Kamrul Islam attended there as special guest.

Md. Moklesur Rahman, Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Sadar Police Station delivered his speech as chief trainer at the workshop. He discussed in detail about the structure, activities and relevant laws of the village court. Besides, he also provided guidance on the role of public representatives for effective implementation of the justice system at the Union Parishad level.

During his speech, the OC Md. Moklesur Rahman said, “Village Court is playing vital role in maintaining peace and harmony in the rural areas. I believe that, if the Union Parishad is strengthened as the primary level of the judiciary, we will be able to establish the roots of justice in the society more deeply. For this, there is no alternative to the sincerity, efficiency and honesty of the public representatives. Through this training, the Union Parishad members will not only acquire the legal knowledge, but also increase their responsibility and credibility towards the people.”

He also said, “I thank the joint initiative of the Local Government Department and UNDP, who are working tirelessly to enhance the capacity of the Union Parishad through the ‘Village Court Activation (Phase-II)’ project. I believe that, such an initiative will breathe new life into the judicial system of our rural Bangldesh.”

The OC further said, “I would like to urge the participants to apply the training in your real life to ensure fair justice to the people without keeping it limited in just formalities. Only then we will be able to build a more just and peaceful society through the village courts.”

Finally the OC Moklesur Rahman said that, “Such training will play an important role in strengthening the village court activities to ensure easy, affordable and timely judicial services at the rural areas.”

Chairmen of four Unions of Sirajganj Sadar Upazila, Union Parishad members and relevant persons of the village courts took part in the training workshop to develop their skills and knowledge on laws.