Underprivileged working children in Bangladesh gets support from Members of Australian Bar Association
UCEP representatives receiving the cheque from Australian High Commissioner and members of the Austrailan Bar Association
A reception was held for Australian judges and members of the Australian Bar Association (ABA) yesterday in Dhaka at the Australian High Commissioner’s residence, during which a donation of Taka 1,700,000 to sponsor underprivileged working children of the UCEP general and technical schools was made. The funds were raised primarily by the Queensland Bar Association from members of the Association and the Queensland Judiciary. Eminent lawyers, judges, and Bangladesh Bar Council members were also present at the occasion. This has been the 4th occasion the ABA has donated money to UCEP. A total of Taka fifty lac (approx AU$97,000) has been raised and donated to date.
The Australian High Commissioner, Douglas Foskett, thanked the Australian Bar members and said he was proud of the work of this group which visits Bangladesh annually. “Not only have they devoted their time voluntarily to conduct specialist legal advocacy training, but they have also taken an interest in the wider community and continue to support underprivileged children who may otherwise never get the chance to receive formal education”, commented Mr Foskett following the cheque handover. He also lauded UCEP for providing the means for underprivileged working children to gain an education and skills which would help them become self-reliant.
Mr O’Gorman, on behalf of the Australian Bar said he was very pleased to be able to assist the important work being undertaken by UCEP. Brigadier General Ahmed, Executive Director of UCEP thanked Australian Bar Association members and their associates for their continuing generous support for improving the lives of vulnerable Bangladeshi children. “The donation would go a long way in improving the lives of these children”, he added.
The Bar Association members visit Dhaka every year to conduct a ten day long Intensive Trial Advocacy Workshop for improving the strength, independence and influence of the Bangladeshi barristers and advocates practising in the courts. All of the members involved in the training program volunteer their time to conduct the workshop which has been held annually in Bangladesh since 1996 with funding from the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID).
Australian High Commission, Dhaka
21 January 2009
For further information please contact
Senior Political & Economic Research Officer, AHC, Dhaka.
Tel: 8813105, E-mail: [email protected]