Photo: PID

KHULNA, June 13, 2026 (BSS) - A discussion on village courts was held today at a city hotel in Khulna with district information officers from the divisional level.

Additional Secretary of the Local Government Division and National Project Director of the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (Phase III) project Suraiya Akhtar Jahan attended the meeting as the chief guest.

Addressing the meeting, she said village courts are playing an important role in involving grassroots people in the justice system.

She said coordinated efforts to provide legal services through village courts would help ordinary and vulnerable rural people avoid financial and mental harassment.

Disputes related to fraud, quarrels, threats, harassment of women, child marriage, divorce, guardianship and other minor civil and criminal matters can be resolved through village courts, she added.

She also informed the meeting that there are plans to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the future to strengthen cooperation in raising awareness about village court services.

Chairing the meeting, Director General of the Department of Mass Communication Md Abdul Jalil said information officers have been working regularly to raise public awareness about citizens' rights and various government services and facilities.

He said village courts can play a vital role in ensuring justice at people's doorsteps at low cost and in maintaining peace and order in society.

National Coordinator of the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (Phase III) project Bibhash Chakraborty, Director (Technical and Training) of the Department of Mass Communication Mir Mohammad Aslam Uddin, and Deputy Director of the Pirojpur District Information Office Parikshit Chowdhury also spoke on the occasion.

The programme was organised by the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (Phase III) project with support from the Department of Mass Communication.

Participants were informed that village courts offer a quick, affordable and effective mechanism for dispute resolution. Village courts are empowered to settle civil and criminal disputes involving claims of up to Tk 300,000.

District information officers from Khulna and Barishal divisions attended the meeting.