DHAKA, May 18, 2026 (BSS) - More than 2.04 lakh justice seekers have received legal services through the national helpline call centre operated by the National Legal Aid Services Organization (NLASO) under the government's legal aid programme.

The information was revealed in a report published on the organization's website on legal service activities conducted from 2009 to April 2026, official sources said today.

According to the report, a total of 2,04,205 people received legal counselling services through the government-funded national helpline call centre using the toll-free number "16699".

It said 27,167 people received assistance through the Supreme Court Legal Aid Office, while district legal aid offices in all 64 districts provided services to 3,20,753 people.

Besides, 22,153 people received legal support through labour legal aid cells in Dhaka and Chattogram.

Overall, 5,74,278 people have received legal advice and assistance at government expense under the programme, the report added.

Initially, legal aid services were introduced at the district level for insolvent litigant justice seekers. Later, the services were expanded to include the Supreme Court, a toll-free national call centre, labour legal aid cells in Dhaka and Chattogram and legal aid services in prisons across the country.

Recently, the hotline number was changed and simplified to "16699".

The report said labour law assistance cell activities began in 2013, while the national helpline call centre was launched in 2016. From then until March 2026, a total of 2,01,577 people received legal counselling services through the hotline.

Before the establishment of the national helpline call centre, 17,328 people received legal advice through hotline-based information support services.

The legal aid services are being provided under the Legal Aid Services Act to support financially disadvantaged and incapable justice seekers at government expense.

The activities of the organization are conducted under the Law and Justice Division of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs.