In Memory of Professor M. Shah Alam

Professor M. Shah Alam, founding Dean of the Faculty of Law of the University of Chittagong, and former Chairman (Acting) of the Law Commission of Bangladesh died on 31^st August 2020. His untimely departure created a vacuum in the legal arena in Bangladesh. Legal academia will deeply miss him for his outstanding scholarship on several branches of law. I had known him as a colleague of the Faculty of Law at the University of Chittagong for more than twenty years. I learned a great deal from him through personal interactions and exchanging views on numerous occasions. He received his legal education in the Former Soviet Union. Later on he worked as a visiting fellow of Tokyo University with the Japanese Fellowship. He was also a senior Full Bright scholar of New York University. He had written several books on international law, and constitutional law. He was prolific in both Bangla and English. He was a professor, mentor, prolific researcher and a visionary law teacher. He was very popular among his students and colleagues. But beyond this popularity, he was a father figure for many of students, a mentor of his colleagues.

He was a pioneer in introducing clinical legal education in Bangladesh. Clinical legal education is considered as an important mechanism of lawyering skill. Considering its importance, he integrated clinical legal education in the curriculum of the Faculty of Law, University of Chittagong, which was first of its kind in Bangladesh. He had excellent capacity of reaching students. His extra-ordinary skill and art of teaching law had remarkable impact on his students. He was incredibly resourceful and enthusiastic about ideas and people. He also tried to popularise text of laws and legal education in Bangla. He always nurtured his students, and junior colleagues so that they can flourish academically and professionally. He strongly believed in social engineering role of law and propagated this idea. But he was more than a traditional teacher. He had extra-ordinary human qualities. He always thought for the welfare of the students and cared his students beyond the classroom.

His teaching philosophy was unique in the sense that he believed that students are not mere passive learners rather they are active participants in the learning process as he encouraged his students to ask questions. His scholarly work on many areas of law left indelible mark.  His scholarly writings on constitutional law, public international law, in particular, the law of the sea are highly acclaimed in legal academia. He had also contributed to development of legal arguments for Bangladesh regarding its maritime entitlement in the Bay of Bengal. He inspired thousands of his students and most of his students are now highly established in legal sector. His dedication for the Faculty of Law and his students was unparalleled, and his passion for knowledge was limitless. He shaped profoundly legal mind of his students as lawyer, judge and teacher to serve the country, people and justice system.  

The writer is Professor of Law, University of Chittagong.