Government Legal Aid Services in Bangladesh Role of Special Committees of Labor Court and Labor Court Legal Aid Cells

Constitution of Bangladesh clearly laid down that every citizen is entitled to equal protection of law, and no one can be deprived of his life, liberty or property except in accordance of law. But it is the reality that majority people are deprived from access to justice for their economic constrains. Deprivation from access to justice is a great violation of human rights. So, in order to ensure social justice and meaningful human rights to the poor people of Bangladesh, legal aid is the only way. Ensuing the constitutional promises, the Legal Aid Services Act, 2000 (LASA, 2000) was enacted to assist the indigent getting legal aid at state cost. Subsequently, a number of policies, rules and regulations have adopted to implement the LASA, 2000. National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) established to fulfill the purposes of the Act and it works through its different structured offices and committees which include with others the Special Committees of Labor Courts (SCLCs) and Labor Courts Legal Aid Cells (LCLACs). The primary functions of the SCLCs among others are to provide legal aid for the litigants who are incapable of seeking justice due to financial insolvency, destitution, helplessness and for various socio-economic conditions in so far as possible upon considering their applications or petitions in accordance with the criteria determined by the Legal Aid Services Rules, 2014. LCLACs correspondingly provide free legal assistance and representation for low-paid workers to help to ensure their legal rights. So, the SCLCs and LCLACs have strong role in the field of legal aid. This article specially focuses on the role and functions of SCLCs and LCLACs and critically reviews, assess, and evaluate the policies and legislation regarding the SCLCs and LCLACs essentially administered to revamp the socio-economic structure of the state by way of removing the social unjust and creating a new order based upon the philosophy of human liberty, equality and dignity of mankind. This study pointed out the challenges required to be identified and addressed and finds that mere establishment of the cells and declaration of the committees are not enough but proper implementation of legal aid laws and policies demand watchful and realistic planning. Moreover, this study proposes that reformation of existing laws are desired; immediate