Dhaka Bar Association has taken an initiative to provide two-year term loans free of interest to listed lawyers who are facing hardships amid the ongoing countrywide shutdown forced by the coronavirus pandemic.
A total 7,511 listed lawyers have applied for the loan.
Confirming the matter to Dhaka Tribune, Iqbal Hossain, president of the Dhaka Bar, said: “A meeting of the executive committee of Dhaka Bar will be held on April 23 to discuss the matter.”
Former presidents and general secretaries of the association will also be sought for their advice.
If approved through all levels, a coordination committee will implement the issue soon, it is hoped.
Advocate H M Masum, office secretary of Dhaka Bar, said that the decision was taken on April 13 through an online video conference.
The listed lawyers submitted applications within the deadline, which expired on April 20.
Earlier on April 15, Dhaka Bar Association sought a fund of Tk100 crore from the government.
An application, signed by Dhaka Bar Association’s General Secretary Md Hossain Ali Khan Hasan, was sent to the prime minister seeking immediate action.
The letter mentioned the struggles, hardships and sufferings that the lawyers are going through as the activity of all the courts are now suspended to combat the coronavirus crisis.
In the letter, the association said: “There are a total 25,209 members of the association. We are requesting the government for Tk100 crore for the welfare of the lawyers so that they can survive the ongoing situation.”
Meanwhile, Dhaka Bar Association also sought Tk2 crore funds from Bangladesh Bar Council on an emergency basis to support its members.
Earlier on March 24, a general holiday was declared for the courts from March 29 to April 2 as per the directive of the Chief Justice.
Later, the holiday was extended on two occasions in accordance with the government-declared general holiday.
As of Tuesday, Bangladesh has confirmed 3,382 coronavirus cases with the death toll rising to 110 after nine new fatalities were reported.
The fast spreading Covid-19 has so far killed 173,000 people in more than 200 countries and territories.
