A National Consultation on Thematic Issues of the Commission on Legal Empowerment of the Poor (CLEP) was held on 3rd March 2007 at the BRAC Centre Auditorium. Dr. Naresh Singh, Executive Director of CLEP, was present as Special Guest. The first session of the conference was chaired by eminent lawyer and jurist Dr. Kamal Hossain while President of the Supreme Court Bar Association Barrister Amir - Ul Islam chaired the second session and Research Initiative Bangladesh (RIB) Chair Dr. Shamsul Bari chaired the third sesssion. Mr. Fazle Hasan Abed, Founder and Chairperson of BRAC and Commissioner of CLEP, delivered the opening remarks.

The conference, held at the behest of CLEP and in collaboration with BRAC University School of Law, deliberated on thematic issues, identified by the Commission, on alleviation of poverty and their relevance for the legal system of Bangladesh.

Papers were presented by Dr. Sharif Bhuiyan, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Barrister Manzoor Hasan, Director, BRAC University Centre for Governance Studies, on behalf of Mr. Afsan Chowdhury, Director, BRAC Advocacy and Human Rights Unit and Dr. Shahdeen Malik, Director, BRAC University School of Law, on behalf of Dr. Ferdous Jahan, Associate Professor, Dhaka University Department of Public Administration.

Comments on the papers were delivered by Dr. Tureen Afroz, Associate Professor, BRAC University School of Law, Ms. Sara Hossain, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court and Dr. Abdullah-Al Faruque, Associate Professor, Chittagong University Department of Law.

Discussion participants included Professor Rehman Sobhan, Chairman of Centre for Policy Dialogue (CPD), Ms. Hameeda Hossain, human rights activist, Ms. Khushi Kabir, Executive Director of Nijera Kori and Ms. Taleya Rehman, Founder Executive Director of Bangladesh Democracywatch.

On 4th March, Dr. Naresh Singh visited BRAC programmes in Dhamrai. He attended a Microfinance Programme Village Organisation meeting, a Legal Aid Clinic session and a Human Rights and Legal Education class, where he exchanged views with the participants on the status of legal empowerment of the poor in Bangladesh. Later, Dr. Singh visited a BRAC primary school where he enjoyed a lively musical performance by the students.

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