Prime Minister Tarique Rahman on Tuesday inaugurated the National Legal Aid Day 2026 at a ceremony held at the Shaheed Abu Sayeed International Convention Center in the city’s Shahbagh area.

The Law and Justice Division organized the event under the theme “Sarkari Khoroche Birodh Shesh, Sobar Agee Bangladesh (Resolving disputes with government expense, Bangladesh comes first),” aimed at raising awareness about free legal services for the country’s underprivileged and financially insolvent citizens.

National Legal Aid Day is observed annually on April 28 to ensure legal rights for the poor, and coordinated programmes have been initiated across district, upazila, and union levels to mark the occasion.

Addressing the inaugural function, the Prime Minister stated that his government has taken specific plans to ensure “access to justice” for financially insolvent people, asserting that access to justice is a constitutional right.

“According to Article 27 of the Constitution, all citizens are equal before the law and entitled to equal protection, which reflects Article 7 of the United Nations declaration,” he noted.

He further emphasized that it is not desirable in a democratic state for any citizen to be deprived of legal protection due to financial constraints, adding, “This is the expectation of the current government that justice should become a reality in every person’s life, not just in law books.”

Sharing personal reflections from his time in prison, the Prime Minister, who is also the ruling BNP chairman, said, “I also had to remain in prison for a long time due to political vengeance.

There were many inmates at that time who were forced to stay in prison for years without trial due to financial hardship.”

He maintained that justice is the foundation of peace and the core strength of a humane state system, stating, “Justice becomes effective only when law is not used as a tool against people rather it is used as a moral force to protect their dignity and rights.”

After more than a decade and a half, he observed that people have resumed the path of democracy, and to consolidate this journey, establishing the rule of justice is essential.

Highlighting the government's efforts to prevent "delayed justice," he explained that mediation has been introduced through legal aid to resolve disputes before formal court cases begin.

“Thousands of disputes have already been resolved quickly and at low cost outside courts through this system. In many cases, solutions came within a few meetings instead of months or years, reducing pressure on courts and government expenses,” he added.

He urged the public to maintain trust in the state, saying, “People must believe that the state remains beside them in times of need, and the Legal Aid will emerge as the reflection of that trust.”

The event featured discussions by Law Minister Md Asaduzzman, EU Ambassador Michael Miller, and Director General of the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid Md Monjurul Hossain, with the Prime Minister’s daughter, Barrister Zaima Rahman, also in attendance.

During the ceremony, the Premier presented awards and crests to Sayem Khan of Dhaka and Neelima Biswas of Rajshahi as the best panel lawyers, while BRAC Executive Director Asif Saleh received a certificate of honor as BRAC’s 'Social Empowerment and Legal Protection Program Cell' was recognized for its role in advancing legal aid activities nationwide.

Closing his speech, the Prime Minister called for collective action, saying, “Let’s build a just and humane state together where justice will be the final word.”