November 21, 2019

Fifth Section 36 Application in Barishal

Nur-e-Jannat Chandni (center), a woman with visual disability, adds her thumbprint with the assistance of Shahida (R), BLAST's Barishal Unit Office Coordinator.

On November 19, 2019, at Barishal Deputy Commissioner's office, Nur-e-Jannat Chandni filed the fifth Section 36 application under the Persons with Disabilities Rights and Protection Act, 2013 (DRPA) to be assisted by USAID's Expanding Participation of People with Disability (EPD) program. Chandni filed her application with assistance from Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust's (BLAST) Barishal Unit Office, after being referred by Bangladesh Protibandhi Unnayan Sangstha (BPUS), one of seven EPD-supported disabled people's organizations (DPOs). BPUS learned of Chandni's complaint through its April 18, 2019 legal aid camp, which drew 130 participants.

Chandni filed her application immediately after BPUS's successful seminar with DRPA district committee members, including the Deputy Director of Social Services and the Deputy Civil Surgeon. The Deputy Commissioner, S.M. Aziur Rahman, presided over the seminar and representatives of BPUS, BLAST, and BlueLaw International, LLP educated the committee members about their responsibilities and powers under the DRPA, including their obligation to meet quarterly. At the meeting's close, after being reminded that the district committee had last convened in April 2019, the Deputy Commissioner set the date of the next meeting for December 4, 2019, and committed to convening the committee on a quarterly basis in the future, as required by the DRPA.

April 19, 2019

Legal Aid Camps in Barishal and Chittagong

A lawyer dressed in a traditional black blazer and white collared shirt sits at a table covered with educational materials in a brightly colored tent and listens to a woman seated across the table.
Rejaul Karim Siddiquee, BlueLaw International's EPD In-Country Coordinator, receives a client at a legal aid camp organized by Bangladesh Protibandhi Unayan Sangstha (BPUS) on April 18, 2019.

On April 18, 2019, Bangladesh Protibandhi Unayan Sangstha (BPUS) organized a legal aid camp to identify prospective Section 36 applicants. The camp attracted 157 participants, many of whom learned about the DRPA for the first time. Fourteen requests for legal aid were processed for follow-up action by both BPUS and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust's (BLAST) Barishal Unit Office.

Ms. Abida Azad (center), Councilor of the Chittagong City Corporation, inaugurates Disabled Development and Resource Centre's (DDRC) legal aid camp on April 25, 2019, alongside Shazzad Islam (seated), DDRC's Executive Director, members of DDRC. Sarah Iqbal and Habiba Akter (first and second from L) of USAID also attended the event.

On April 25, 2019, Disabled Development and Resource Centre (DDRC) organized a legal aid camp to identify prospective Section 36 applicants. The camp was inaugurated by Ms. Abida Azad, Councilor of the Chittagong City Corporation, and attracted 176 participants. Twenty-two requests for legal aid were processed for follow-up action by both DDRC and Bangladesh Legal Aid and Services Trust's (BLAST) Chittagong Unit Office.

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