Sheikh Hasina speaking at a conference of Union Parishad chairmen and members in Dhaka yesterday

By Mizan Rahman
Dhaka
Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina yesterday said religious fanaticism and superstition should not be allowed to play any role in discharging justice in village courts, an age-old dispute resolution system in rural Bangladesh and given a legal authority through laws.
“In the older times, our elders had unofficially resolved disputes in the villages. It doesn’t exist now. The Village Court Act was enacted to give this idea of resolving disputes an official and legal authority,” she said at a programme in Dhaka.
She said that the village court was a unique authority and a huge responsibility for the elected representatives. “Justice should be ensured through this system with great responsibility,” Hasina told chairmen of Union Parishads present at the programme.
“Nothing should be imposed being influenced by others. Religious fanaticism and superstition should not be given any chance to manipulate justice system. The disputes must be resolved through understanding and motivation, ” she said while addressing the inaugural programme of a two-day Village Court Conference under ‘Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project’ at Bangabandhu International Conference Centre in the capital.
Village Courts were introduced in 1976 aiming to create an opportunity to resolve the disputes at the local level for the poor people without any hassle and at a nominal cost.
Theoretically, the Village Courts are statutory courts and are composed of Union Parishad representatives and members nominated by disputant parties.
The government took the ‘Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project’ on 2009 to enforce the Village Courts Act. Currently, the project is working in activating the justice system in 350 selected UPs in the country with supports from UNDP and European Union.
Chairmen and secretaries of the 350 UPs under the project are taking part in the two-day conference.
The prime minister said the government has taken steps to introduce village courts in 4,000 more Union Parishads.
She said the government was also considering appointing a judicial assistance to each union to make the village courts operational.
Hasina, who is also the Awami League president, said her government has been working to build the UPs into stronger, dynamic and self-reliant units for peoples’ benefits. “UPs will be the core of implementing all development and public
welfare activities.”
She also declared that Rangpur would be upgraded to a city corporation very shortly to ensure upgraded public service and administrative decentralisation.
She said the government was preparing a ‘master plan’ for 23 districts sadar municipalities and 223 upazila sadar municipalities to ensure development in those areas.
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Syed Asharful Islam, State Minister Jahangir Kabir Nanak, UNDP resident representative Neal Walker, EU delegation charge d’affaires Milko Van Gool and project director of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project’s KM Mozammel Haque also spoke at the programme presided by LRGD secretary Abu Alam Mohammad Shahid Khan.