Photo: BSS

DHAKA, Aug 25, 2026 (BSS) - A tripartite Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed today among the Directorate of Bangladesh Legal Aid (DBLA), Department of Social Services and Department of Women Affairs to strengthen inter-agency cooperation in providing legal aid, social protection, rehabilitation and integrated services to women, children and vulnerable groups.

The MoU was signed at the conference room of the Ministry of Social Welfare this afternoon. Social Welfare Minister Abu Zafar Md Zahid Hossain, Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman and State Minister for Ministry of Social Welfare Farzana Sharmin were present on the occasion, among others.

The main objective of the MoU is to ensure coordinated delivery of government services, including legal aid, social protection, rehabilitation, safe shelter, psychosocial support, protection of women and children, and skills development, based on service recipients' needs through effective inter-institutional coordination among the three organisations.

Under the MoU, an integrated referral and case management system will be established among the three organisations. If a service required by a recipient falls outside the jurisdiction of one organisation, the person will be referred to the relevant organisation through an appropriate process, with arrangements for follow-up on the progress and outcome of the service.

Women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, survivors of abuse and other vulnerable groups will particularly benefit from the system by gaining priority access to the services they need.

Besides, for people affected by vulnerable situations such as violence against women and children, sexual violence, domestic violence and cybercrime, coordination will be ensured among legal aid, medical care, psychosocial counselling, safe shelter and rehabilitation services.

Where necessary, coordination will also be maintained with One-Stop Crisis Centres, relevant government institutions and law enforcement agencies.

Under the MoU, initiatives will be taken to establish an integrated mechanism among the help lines of the three organisations--16699 of the DBLA, 1098 of the Department of Social Services and 109 of the Department of Women Affairs--for emergency services and referrals. 

The three organisations will also cooperate in joint training of officials and employees, public awareness activities, information sharing, research and expansion of digital services.

To implement the MoU, provisions have been made to form a tripartite steering committee at the central level and district coordination committees at the district level. These committees will oversee referrals, inter-institutional case coordination, progress reviews and implementation of necessary joint initiatives.

Overall, the MoU will establish an effective institutional linkage among government services related to legal aid, social protection, protection of women and children, and rehabilitation. This is expected to play an important role in ensuring coordinated and faster government services, particularly for disadvantaged, abused and vulnerable groups.