SANGSAD BHABAN, June 21, 2026 (BSS) - Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs 
Minister Md. Asaduzzaman today informed Parliament that the government has 
undertaken an initiative to further increase lawyers' fees of the legal aid 
panel in a bid to expand and strengthen legal aid services across the 
country.

He disclosed the information while responding to a starred tabled question 
tabled by NCP lawmaker Md. Abul Hasnat of Cumilla-4 constituency.

With Speaker Hafiz Uddin Ahmad, Bir Bikram, in the chair, the minister said 
many skilled and experienced lawyers are reluctant to work on legal aid 
panels because the government-fixed fees are comparatively low.

In addition, lawyers often have to bear initial expenses related to case 
management, court fees and collection of necessary documents.

Considering these realities, he said the government has already increased the 
fees of panel lawyers by 30 percent and has taken steps to make the 
remuneration structure more reasonable and attractive, he added.

The minister further said that, to broaden access to legal aid and 
Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) services for poor, disadvantaged and 
justice-seeking citizens, the National Legal Aid Services Organization 
(NLASO) has been upgraded to the Bangladesh Legal Aid Directorate.

To ensure legal aid services reach the grassroots level, he said, the 
government, in collaboration with the United Nations Development Programme 
(UNDP), is implementing a digital legal aid project. 

"Under the initiative, digital centres are being established in 300 unions, 
while a mobile application and online portal are being introduced and the 
capacity of the 16699 toll-free helpline is being enhanced," he continued.

The minister also highlighted various awareness-building activities, 
including courtyard meetings, public hearings, street dramas, seminars, 
leaflet distribution and special programmes at educational institutions.

The government is also observing the National Legal Aid Day to promote public 
awareness about legal assistance services.

Regarding digital coordination between government and non-governmental 
organizations, he said that several technical and legal challenges remain. 

"These include the absence of a comprehensive data-sharing policy, separate 
case management systems and concerns related to the protection of personal 
information," Asaduzzaman added.

However, he noted that the government is working on policy formulation and 
strengthening technological capacity to establish an integrated, secure and 
efficient digital legal aid system across the country.