Celebrating the Scaling up of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project |
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Local Government Division with the assistance of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Phase II Project has organized the event Scaling up of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project on April 9, 2017 in Dhaka. The aim of the event was to acknowledge the achievements treasured in Pilot phase, share reflections, experience and learning of the AVCB Project with a view to encouraging all relevant stakeholders in making the AVCB Phase II successful.
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Training of Union Parishad’s chairmen and panel chairmen continues for better access to justice in village courts |
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May 2017, Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Phase II Project continued a series of training for Union Parishads‿(UP) chairmen and panel chairmen to strengthen their functional capacity for operating village courts successfully towards improving access to justice for rural people. Meanwhile, the project implemented by Local Government Division, with support from European Union (EU) and UNDP has trained approximately 1,700 UP chairmen and panel chairmen including 83 females
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Bangladesh: Taking Action for Sustainable Development |
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Peace, justice and effective, accountable and inclusive institutions are at the core of sustainable development. However, in many countries, far too many people struggle as a result of weak institutions and the lack of access to justice, information and other fundamental freedoms.
Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project has been providing legal services and access to justice to over 7 million people primarily in rural areas
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Secretary, Local Government Division with European Union and UNDP Delegation Visited project site in Rangpur Sadar |
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To proceed to the next stage of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project the EU and the UNDP hosted by the LGD hold a visit in Rangpur Sadar, Rangpur (a pilot phase working area) to witness present situation of the village courts in project UPs and induct the activities of Phase II
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Access to justice for 27 million rural Bangladeshis |
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abitra Bala is a 65 year old widow from Magura district in rural Bangladesh. She is extremely poor with very few belongings, earning only a small income of 1000 BDT (USD 13) a month from laboring on her neighbor’s land and begging in the town. Her son, Nikhil has a mental disability, earn an income from fishing and pulling rickshaw van when he can.
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6th PSC meeting of Village Courts Project |
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The 6th Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project held on Thursday, 10 December, 2015 at Local Government Division (LGD), Ministry of Local Government, Rural Development and Cooperatives. Mr. Abdul Malek, Secretary, Local Government Division (LGD) presided over the meeting. Ms. Pauline Tamesis, Country Director of UNDP in Bangladesh,
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Meeting on phase out strategy of Village Court project held in Kishoregonj and Sylhet |
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With the support of Local Government Division (LGD), local administration of Kishorgonj district and Dokshin Surma upazila, Sylhet organized two consecutive day-long meetings on phase out strategy of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project at DC’s Conference Room, Kishoregonj
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11th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting held |
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The 11th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) Meeting of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project was held on November 16, 2015, Monday in the Conference Room of Local Government Division at Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka. The meeting was presided over by Md. Sirajul Islam, National Project Director (NPD) of AVCB Project and Additional Secretary, LGD
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Phase out Workshops held in Narail, Chudanga, Gopalgonj, Rajbari and Pirojpur |
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In line with the process of phasing out of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project, local administration organized four different district level day-long workshops on phase out strategy of village court project consecutively on 10, 11, 12 and 17 November 2015 in Narail, Chuadanga, Gopalgonj and Rajbari district and one upazila level day-long meeting at Bhandaria (Pirojpur) with the support of LGD
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The delegation of ERD and UNDP visited Village Courts activities in Faridpur and Rajbari |
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Mr. Md. Ashadul Islam, Additional Secretary (UN wing), Economic Relation Division (ERD) together with Mr. Nick Beresford, Deputy Country Director, UNDP and Mr. Rustam Pulatov, Assistant Country Director, UNDP visited Aliabad union parishad of Faridpur Sadar upazila in Faridpur district on 29 October 2015. Dr. Abu Nayeem Mohammad Abdus Sabur, DC (Acting), Faridpur and Md. Jahirul Islam, UNO, Faridpur Sadar Upazila accompanied the team
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Local administration organized Phase out Meeting for Village Courts Project |
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As a part of phase out process of the pilot project of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh, district administration of Magura and Faridpur organized two different day-long meetings on phase out strategy of village court project at DC conference room, Magura and Faridpur respectively on 26 and 27 October 2015 with the support of LGD
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IMED Evaluation Team Visited AVCB Project |
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The IMED Evaluation Team recently made another visit to AVCB Project. This time they visited both project and non-project unions in connection to their AVCB Project evaluation. As part of the second field visit, the team touched Magura, Faridpur and Rajbari district during 19-20 September 2015 and collected different information pertaining to evaluation
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IMED Evaluation Team praises Village Courts Project |
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A special evaluation team formed by Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation Division (IMED) of Ministry of Planning visited ‘Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB)' Project activities in Kishoregonj district on 12 September 2015. The visiting-team consisted of five members: Ms. Taskera Khatun Director (Deputy Secretary), IMED, Mr. Mohammad Nazim Uddin, Deputy Secretary, Economic Relations Division (ERD), Mr. Md. Didarul Alam, Senior Assistant Chief, Local Government Division (LGD), Mr. Md. Wahid Hossain, Assistant Director, IMED and Mr. Muhammad Saniul Kader, Assistant Chief, Planning Commission. Ms. Jesmin Akter, UNO, Bhairob, Kishoregonj and Mr. Sarder M Asaduzzaman, Project Manager, AVCB project, UNDP accompanied the evaluation team
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Village Court Assistants awarded by District Administration |
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Village Courts Assistants (VCA) plays a crucial role in attending justice seekers through receiving cases on behalf of the Union Parishad and assisting to arrange the village courts session on regular basis. To boost up their courage, dedication as well as acknowledging their performance
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Phase out Workshops organized by Village Court project |
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As a part of its exit strategy Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized two district level workshops with the presence of district and upazila administration, UP Chairmen and Secretaries in Chittagong and Cox’s Bazar on 28 and 29 August 2015
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Upazila Level Sensitization Workshop on VC Held |
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In the continuous endeavor to sensitize and involve key stakeholders for activating village courts, the ‘Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh’ project organized a upazila level sensitization workshop on involvement of relevant stakeholders for activating village courts on July 10, 2015 at the Upazila Parishad Conference Room, Bhandaria, Pirojpur
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Country Director of UNDP acclaims Village Courts |
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Ms. Pauline Tamesis, Country Director together with Ms. Shaila Khan, Assistant Country Director of UNDP Bangladesh visited Gajaghanta union parishad of Gangachara upazila in Rangpur district on 29 June 2015 and highly appreciated the on-going activities of the Village Courts project in bringing justice to the doorsteps of the rural peoples
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Scale up initiative for Village Courts in Panchagarh |
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‘From my experience, I found many UP Chairs confuse village courts with shalish (traditional mediation). To overcome this conceptual limitations, orientation on village courts is extremely important’ said Mr. Md. Salauddin, Deputy Commissioner, Panchagarh during his inaugural speech in a day long orientation organized by Boda Upazila Administration, Panchagarh. This orientation was organized for UP Chair and Secretaries from 10 Unions Parishads of Boda upazila
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Village Courts Project organized 7th Reflection Workshop |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized the 7th Project Reflection Workshop (PRW) at CIRDAP Auditorium in Dhaka on 8th June 2015.Together with the District Facilitators, selected participants from four NGOs representing 4 divisions (Dhaka, Khulna, Chittagong and Rangpur) and staff from R&PD areas the day long Workshop was enriched with the presence of Md. Sirajul Islam, National Project Director and Additional Secretary, Local Government Division, MoLGRD&C as Chief Guest. Besides, Mr. Salahuddin Khan, Programme Analyst, UNDP were present as Special Guest while Mr. Sarder M Asaduzzaman, Project Coordinator delivered
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Village Courts project holds 10th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized its 10th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) Meeting on May 27, 2015 Wednesday in the Conference Room of Rural Development and Cooperatives Division at Bangladesh Secretariat, Dhaka. The meeting was presided over by Md. Sirajul Islam, National Project Director (NPD) of AVCB Project and Additional Secretary, LGD
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Chuadanga Admin emphasise on VC |
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‘Police stations can play supportive role by redirecting petty matters to village courts for quick and amicable disposal as per village court’s jurisdiction. It helps reducing additional burden in the higher courts as well as lessening justice seeker’s harassment’
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National Project Director observed Village Courts session at Maria Union |
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Mr. Md. Sirazul Islam, Additional Secretary of Local Government and National Project Director (NPD) for Activating Village courts in Bangladesh Project visited Maria Union Parishad of Kishoreganj Sadar Upazila and observed Village Courts hearing session on May 16, 2015. He was accompanied with Mr. Sarder M. Asaduzzaman Project Manager of AVCB project, UNDP. Md. Emdadul Hoq Choudhury, Deputy Director Local Government (DDLG) of Kishoreganj, A S M Ferdous, Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Kishoreganj Sadar, Md. Abul Kalam Azad, District Facilitator, AVCB Project Kishoreganj were present during the visit
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Access to Rural Justice for Women |
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The Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project aims to improve access to justice for rural poor and marginalized in Bangladesh through establishing village courts. The village courts functions as a grassroots avenue for justice in the community by the community members. For minor civil and criminal disputes
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OFPRA Delegation lauds Village Courts Project |
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A delegation of the Office Francais De Protection Des Refugies Et Apatrides (OFPRA), France highly appreciated the on-going activities of the Village Courts in bringing justice to the doorsteps of the rural people while visiting Tetli Union Parishad of Dokshin Surma Upazila in Sylhet District on April 11, 2015
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Wrap-up meeting of formulation mission on Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project Phase –II |
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The wrap up meeting of the formulation mission on Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project Phase 2 (19th March 2015) was an overall success. The meeting was presided over by the Secretary of the Local Government Division Mr. Abdul Malek
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Village Courts Project Phase-2 Formulation Mission landed |
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UNDP and EU jointly commissioned a Formulation Mission for designing the Phase 2 of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project. The Mission was launched at meeting with pertinent stakeholders at Officer’s Club, Dhaka on 23rd February 2015
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Reflections on Progress of DMIE |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project organized a workshop on Reflections on Progress of Decentralized Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation (DMIE) System on Village Courts at Officer’s Club, Dhaka on 16th February 2015
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Rangpur DC tracks village courts case data online |
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Local administrations is now increasingly demonstrating its attention to village courts services through strong monitoring, supervision and follow up. Mr. Farid Ahmed, Deputy Commissioner (DC), Rangpur recently visited Parul union parishad under Pirgacha upazila on November 26, 2014 and enormously appreciated the on-going activities
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First Government Cost Sharing Agreement Signed |
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November 13, 2014 is a landmark day for UNDP Bangladesh in resource mobilization! On this day the first ever tripartite agreement among LGD, UNDP and ERD was signed for the extension of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) project where GoB will fund USD one million
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Assistant Secretary General Mr. Michael O’Neill praises Village Courts Project Performance |
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Mr. Michael O’Neill, Assistant Secretary General and Director at the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy, UNDP attended a review meeting on Village Courts project on October 28, 2014 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka
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Village Courts Project holds Media Sensitization Workshop |
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As part of its continuous endeavor to sensitize and involve key stakeholders in activating village courts, the Village Courts Project organized two upazila level sensitization workshops at the Upazila Parishad Conference Room of Dakshin Surma and Bhandaria Upazila respectively in Sylhet and Pirojpur District on 16 October 2014
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Prject holds Training on web based VCMIS system |
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From 15 September 2014, the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) Project started the first batch of the residential training for UP Secretaries, Village Court Assistants, District Facilitator and Upazila Supervisor on Web-based Village Court Management Information System (VCMIS) at Bangladesh Computer Council (BCC) in Dhaka
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AVCB inter-ministerial meeting held |
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Village Courts Act, Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) project has recently drafted Village Courts Rules, 2014. On 10 September 2014 Local Government Division (LGD) organized an inter-ministerial meeting at the LGD conference room to have a critical discussion and review of that document
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VCP organizes Sharing Meeting with Chittagong Police |
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Police plays a crucial procedural responsibility while receiving complaint and enquiring into it. It is evident that in many cases police receive cases which could be tried under village court but they send them to court and then the court refer them back to Village Courts
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ICT-based DCMIE for VC |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project organised the Orientation on ICT-based Decentralized Monitoring, Inspection and Evaluation (DCMIE) System with selected key stakeholders on August 20, 2014 at the AVCB Project Office in Gulshan
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5th PSC meeting for Village Courts Project |
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The fifth Project Steering Committee (PSC) meeting of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project was held on July 20, 2014 in LGD Conference Room. Mr. Monzur Hossain, Senior Secretary of Local Government Division presided over the meeting. Mr. Nick Beresford, Deputy Country Director of UNDP; Ms. Yong Hong, Assistant Country Director of UNDP; Ms. Lenka Vitkova, Head of Operations-1, Delegations of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh and Mr. K M Mozammel Hoq, National Project Director
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UNDP Justice Sector Review Mission visits VCs |
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Justice Sector Review Mission team of UNDP Bangladesh witnessed an on-going trial session of a Village Court in Mohinondo Union of Sadar Upazila under Kishoreganj district on June 25, 2014
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LGRDC state minister praises Village Courts |
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State Minister for Local Government, Rural Development & Cooperatives Mr. Moshiur Rahman Ranga visited Kolkond union parishad of Gangachora upazila under Rangpur district on June 18, 2014
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EU commends Village Courts |
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While visiting Parkrisnapur-Madna Union of Damurhuda Upazila in Chuadanga District on June 06, 2014, Mr. Dirk Meganck, Director, DEVCO H, Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific & Mr. Jos Jonckers, Deputy Head of Unit H1
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EU team to visit Chuadanga village courts |
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A team of EU Delegation is visiting Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project field in Chuadanga on June 6, 2014.This high level EU team consists of Mr. Dirk Meganck, Director, DEVCO H, Asia, Central Asia, Middle East/Gulf and Pacific; Mr. Jos Jonckers, Deputy Head of Unit H1, Geographical Coordination Asia
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EU representative praises Village Courts |
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Ms. Lenka Vitkova, Head of Operations-1, Delegations of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh, and Mr. Luc Patzelt, Programme Manager from the Delegations together with Mr. Nick Beresford Deputy Country Director, UNDP Bangladesh visited Parul union of Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur district on May 28, 2014
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Review workshop with UNOs on Village Courts |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project organised a day-long review workshop with Upazila Nirbahi Officers on May 22, 2014 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel, Dhaka.Mr. Monzur Hossain, Senior Secretary of Local Government Division graced the workshop
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Workshop on gender & human rights |
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As a part of its continuous endeavour to enhance knowledge, skills and attitudes of key stakeholders on gender, discrimination against women, women’s empowerment and village courts trial process to pave the way for establishing a gender-friendly, responsive local justice system
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PIC meeting of AVCB |
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The 9th Project Implementation Committee (PIC) meeting of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh (AVCB) project was held on March 24, 2014 in Dhaka. Mr. K M Mozammel Hoq, NPD of AVCB Project & Additional Secretary of LGD presided
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EU envoy appreciates Village Courts |
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While visiting Bhangni union parishad of Mithapukur upazila in Rangpur district on March 05, 2014, Ms. Libuse Soukupova, First Secretary, Delegations of the European Union (EU) to Bangladesh and Mr. Simon le Grand, Desk Officer from European Union (EU) Headquarter in Brussels highly appreciated the on-going activities of the Village Courts Project at bringing justice to the doorsteps of the rural people. The visiting envoy had the opportunity to observe
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Village courts project organizes reflection workshop |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized the 5th Project Reflection Workshop at the Officers’ Club, Dhaka on 16 February 2014. Together with selected participants from four partner NGOs (MLAA, ESDO, BLAST & WAVE Foundation) and R&PD areas, the one-day long workshop was graced with the presence of Mr. K. M. Mozammel Hoq, National Project Director
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UP representatives trained on Village Courts (amendment) Act, 2013 |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project started conducting a series of capacity building trainings for UP representatives on Village Courts (amendment) Act, 2013. Two different training events, three-day long each, are organized in research and process development (R&PD) areas in Bhandaria and Dakshin Surma Upazila respectively under Pirojpur and Sylhet District
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AVCB holds refresher training courses |
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As a part of capacity building initiatives the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized two consecutive day-long refresher trainings on the VC (amendment) Act 2013 at RRF training Center, Jessore and MSS training Center, Sayedpur, Nilphamari on 29 January and 04 February 2014
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Village Courts Project trains religious leaders |
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Activating Village Court Project in Bangladesh organized a training event for religious leaders at its Research and Process Development (R&PD) area in Bhandaria Upazila under Pirojpur District from January 20 till 22, 2014. 76 religious leaders from various religions took part in three different batches
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Village Courts project starts refresher training |
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As a part of 4 refreshers training events, the Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh project organized its first day-long refresher session on the VC (amendment) Act 2013 at CCDB Hope Centre at Savar
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Village Police training in Pirojpur organized |
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Activating Village Court Project in Bangladesh Project organized a training program for village police in the Research and Process Development (R&PD) area in Bhandaria Upazila under Pirojpur District. A total of 66 village police took part in three different batches
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Village Courts Project’s Donor meeting held |
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Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project had its donor meeting on 18th December 2013 at the Pan Pacific Sonargaon Hotel. The meeting reviewed the achievements and lessons learning of the current phase which is ending by December 2014
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BTV is broadcasting TV Spot on Village Courts |
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Local Government Division (LGD) with the support of Activating Village Courts in Bangladesh Project has entered a contract with Bangladesh Television (public terrestrial TV channel) to telecast one-minute TV spot on village courts. The spot aims to enhance the knowledge on VCs and accelerate the justice seeking behavior among the rural community. Bangladesh Television (BTV) is airing the spot initially from 12 December 2013
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