ELCOP organizes 1st Professor Shah Alam Constitutional Law Moot Court Competition 2020
A moot court competition simulates a court hearing in which the participants get the opportunity to analyse a made-up problem, research the relevant statutes and case laws, prepare written submissions, and present oral submissions before a panel of judges. It is the closest experience a law student can get of a courtroom while studying in a law school. Due to COVID-19 pandemic, however, it has become difficult for many law schools and organisations to arrange in-person moot court competitions in recent months.
Keeping in mind the rules of social distancing measure and the situation of countrywide university-shutdown, Empowerment through Law of the Common People (ELCOP) organised the first ever virtual (and inter-university Bangla-English dual language) moot court competition on the issue of constitutional law in order to engage the law students of the country in legal research and advocacy during this time of pandemic. Taken place on 21-23 August 2020, the competition was named after Professor Dr M Shah Alam, the renowned Professor of Law and former Chairman of Bangladesh Law Commission.
The fictitious facts of the case used in this competition concerned the state of human rights issues that we are struggling with during this current unprecedented pandemic situation in Bangladesh. The key objective to frame such a case was to raise awareness about the constitutional obligations of the State as well as the private entity regarding the alleged violations human rights of the citizens such as right to health and right to life, among others.
The final oral rounds of the competition were adjudicated by Justice M Imman Ali, Hon'ble Justice of Appellate Division at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Advocate Z.I. Khan Panna, Senior Advocate at the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; and Dr. Ridwanul Hoque, Professor of Law, University of Dhaka.
The competition was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Founder and Chairman of ELCOP and Former Chairman of National Human Rights Commission. Advocate A M Amin Uddin, President of Supreme Court Bar Association, was present as the Chief Guest in the result announcement and closing ceremony of the competition.
Students from 21 universities across the country participated in the competition and 16 mooting teams based on the quality of their written submissions (memorials) qualified to the oral rounds. After an intense battle in the virtual courtroom, the team from East West University emerged as the champion of the competition whereas the team from Canadian University of Bangladesh became the runners-up. Md. Ikra from Bangladesh University of Professionals and Nusrat Jahan Nishat from East West University were awarded to Best Mooter and Rebellious Lawyer titles respectively. University of Dhaka bagged the Best Memorial (Petitioner) Award while Khulna University achieved the Best Memorial (Respondent) Award. The team from University of Rajshahi's Land and Law Administration Department won the Spirit of Moot Award.
The whole competition was coordinated by a group of student-volunteers under the supervision of Barrister Tapas Kanti Baul, Executive Director of ELCOP, and Dr. S.M. Masum Billah, Associate Professor of Law, Jagannath University. Although a virtual moot court is different from a real moot court in many aspects, the organisers excellently managed the well-functioning of the competition. This competition has surely boosted the confidence of young law students in legal advocacy and helped us learn countless ways of improving our speaking, research and communication skills.
THE WRITER IS A STUDENT OF LAW, CANADIAN UNIVERSITY OF BANGLADESH AND A MEMBER OF RUNNERS-UP MOOTING TEAM AT THE COMPETITION.