Friendship, a prominent national NGO has launched Bangladesh's first Online Dispute Resolution (ODR) Center in Paikgachha, Khulna. Inaugurated on Friday, this pilot initiative aims to provide accessible legal services and mediation to marginalized communities living in climate-vulnerable areas.
The ODR Center allows local residents to seek legal advice and resolve disputes virtually, eliminating the costly and time-consuming need to travel to Khulna city.
Speaking as the chief guest Khulna Senior District and Sessions Judge Chand Mohammad Abdul Alim Al Razi emphasized the role of technology in ensuring justice for remote populations. He noted that the center, established at the Paikgachha Chowki Court will save locals significant time and money while promoting swift dispute resolution through mediation.
Masuda Yasmin Deputy Director of the Bangladesh Legal Aid Department, joined virtually as the guest of honor. She praised the initiative as a timely step toward affordable justice. "While ODR reduces geographical barriers, it is not a substitute for the judicial system. Rather it is a supportive medium to make existing legal aid and mediation frameworks more effective and people-centric" she stated.
Ayesha Tasin Khan, Friendship’s Senior Director of Inclusive Citizenship with highlighted the financial and geographical hurdles faced by Paikgachha residents. She noted that the ODR Center leverages technology to bypass these barriers, bringing justice directly to the people's doorsteps.
The launch event was also attended by Khulna District Legal Aid Officer Romana Afroz, Paikgachha Judicial Magistrate Masum Billah, Civil Judge Hazrat Ali and local Bar Association leaders.
Operating in collaboration with the Bangladesh Legal Aid Department, the center provides a designated digital platform for virtual mediation. This landmark initiative is expected to significantly ease the legal burdens of rural citizens by facilitating faster also highly accessible justice.
