The third phase of the project to activate village courts in Bangladesh was initiated by the Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives, Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. An annual campaign was held yesterday (15 June/26) at 12:00 pm in Gohalakanda Union Parishad No. 11 of Purbadhala Upazila of Netrokona district to raise public awareness about the services of village courts.

The program was presided over by the current chairman of Gohalakanda Union Parishad No. 11, Md. Anwar Hossain Fazal.

He said, the marginalized groups are still not aware of the village court services, there is no alternative to the village court to get justice in a short time and at low cost.

The village court is a local court run under the Union Parishad of Bangladesh, which is formed to settle small civil and criminal cases in rural areas. It creates an opportunity for the poor and underprivileged to get justice easily and at low cost.

This system was introduced by the promulgation of the Village Courts Ordinance in 1976. Later, this system was further strengthened by the enactment of the Village Courts Act, 2006 and the Village Courts Rules, 2016. The Act was first amended in 2013 and secondly in 2024.

The purpose of the Village Courts is to make the local dispute resolution system more transparent and acceptable. To ensure the right of rural people, especially women and the poor and marginalized groups, to access justice.

Present as special guests at the event were former chairman of Gohalakanda Union Parishad, joint convener of Upazila BNP Fakir Md. Sayed Al Mamun Shaheed, Upazila Chhatra Dal convener Salman Rahman Pallab, BNP leader Bachchu, President of Shyamganj Press Club Md. Al Imran, Dr. A. Rashid, Caesar Master.

Also present were all UP members of the Parishad, administrative officer Hasin Israq Newton, entrepreneur Saddam Hossain, village police personnel and people from all walks of life in the area.

After various questions and answers about village court services at the event, Purbadhala Upazila Coordinator Md. Badiuzzaman distributed prizes among the ten winners of Purbadhala Netrokona (Activation of Bangladesh Village Courts).