STAFF CORRESPONDENT

LGRD Minister Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday stressed the need to strengthen the institutional capacity of village courts and recruit women into the village police force to ensure justice at the grassroots level.

He made the remarks during a meeting with a four-member United Nations Development Programme delegation, led by Deputy Resident Representative Sonali Dayaratne, at the Secretariat in Dhaka.

The two sides discussed the progress and institutional development of the village court project, with a focus on ensuring accessible and low-cost justice for rural people.

Fakhrul said village courts have played an important role in resolving rural disputes for more than a century.

He said quick settlement of minor disputes at the local level would reduce pressure on conventional courts and make justice more accessible for ordinary people.

The meeting also discussed increasing women’s participation in local government institutions.

Fakhrul also said local government institutions need stronger capacity to implement development and social protection programmes effectively.