Introduction

Madaripur Legal Aid Association (MLAA) the first Legal Aid and Human Rights organization in Bangladesh working  to provide legal assistance to the distressed people, enhancing local justice through reformed Mediation, activating Village Courts,  Arbitration Council,  awareness building to the mass on law and rights and policy advocacy to reform laws. One of the main objectives of the organization is to motivate people and work among them to face the natural disaster.

Interventions on COVID-19 

MLAA works several projects in different parts of the country and out of various projects MLAA provided few assistance to 12 Union Parishads at Jessor, Panchagar and Thakurgoan districts (4 Ups in each district) which are MLAA’s working area through local PNGOs under a project of Manusher Jonno Foundation (MJF).  MLAA provide 500 pcs hand wash soap in each Union and miking  at Union’s Ward level about Corona protection.

MLAA works for ‘Improving real situation of the prisons’ with an aim to reduce prisons overcrowding in the prison through a project of GIZ and planned to assist poor prisoners and their families. MLAA has planned to distribute Food Packages among 140 prisoners in Madaripur, Gopoalgonj and Thakurgoan districts who are poor clients who are now workless.  MLAA already distributed 110 Food packages on July 2020 to 110 prisons in said three districts and remaining packages will be distributed at Madaripur within August 2020.

Beside these through his project, MLAA provided Hygienic Martials (hand sanitizers, soaps, spray machines, chemicals) and water container in 3 district’s Prisons, Courts and DLAC offices.

Legal Advice and support to victims of Domestic Violence.

As a legal aid provider organization MLAA has been providing legal advice to the justice seekers at its working area in this Corona situation. MLAA also has been assisting victims of domestic violence and other justice seekers through its field workers informing them what to do, where to go. Even has been providing cooperation for dispute resolution through mediation locally maintaining social distance at Union level.

Recommendations

Our recommendation is to increase coordination among govt. and different agencies. Take special care to Corona treatment institutions.