International Virtual Conference on the Impact of COVID- 19 Pandemic in the Legal Field held at UAP

UNESCO Madanjeet Singh South Asian Institute of Advanced Legal and Human Rights Studies (UMSAILS) in partnership with the Department of Law and Human Rights, University of Asia Pacific (UAP) organised three days long 1^st UMSAILS-UAP International Virtual Conference from June 17 to June 19, 2021. The theme of the conference spotlighted the impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic in the Legal Field.

In the inaugural ceremony, Mr Justice Goekle, Former Justice of the Supreme Court of India was present as Chief Guest while Professor Asono, Professor of Law from Kansai University, Japan and Mr Justice Moinul Islam Chowdhury, former Justice of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh adorned the session as special guests. Qayum Reza Chowdhury, BOT member, UAP and treasurer Air Cdre(Retd) Isfaq Elahi Choudhury also spoke at the ceremony. Dr Chowdhury Ishrak Ahmed Siddiky, Head of Department of Law and Human Rights, UAP offered a vote of thanks at the end of the plenary session.

The conference was divided into nine sessions with covering three sessions each day. It tried to synergise diverse knowledge and insights on evolving legal dynamics emanated from pandemic Covid-19 from the stellar personalities of the legal world. On the first day of the conference, the impact of Covid-19 in the legal professions, human rights infringements and entry regulations on border closures during Covid-19, women and children violence in pandemic were discussed. Amongst others, Dr Sumaya Khair and Dr Farmin Islam, professors of law, University of Dhaka; Dr Faustina Pereira and Shahriar Sadat, professors of BRAC University; Dr A.K.M Emdadul Hauqe, Deputy Secretary to Government of Bangladesh, Ministry of Law, Justice and parliamentary affairs were the key discussants for the three different sessions.

The issues of Counterbalancing the public interests in the pandemic, Covid -19 influence on labour situations in South Asia and regional food security, educational constraints during the pandemic, appraisal of international laws and epidemic laws in the backdrop of Covid 19 were deliberated by the participants in the 2^nd day of the conference. Dr Ridwanul Hauqe and Dr Jamila A Chowdhury, professors, Department of Law, University of Dhaka, Barrister Sara Hossain conveyed their worthwhile feedbacks on the presented papers as distinguished panellists on that occasion.

The third day of the conference was highlighted with the discourse of Covid-19 footprints on the environment and climate change which is followed by a couple of thought-provoking narrations from different participants on the right to privacy, E-commerce and the right to freedom of expression during the pandemic. Dr Shahdeen Malik, an eminent advocate of Supreme Court, Dr Mizanur Rahman, former chairman of National Human Rights, Ms Syeda Rizwana Hasan, executive director BELA Dr Mahbubur Rahman, Professor of Law, University of Dhaka and Associate professor Quazi Mahfuzul Houqe Shupon disseminated their contemplations on the intellectual outputs of the paper presenters in the last day of the international conference in collaboration with other famous lawyers and academicians of Bangladesh.

In addition to national contenders, Participants from eight different countries presented their papers at the conference on pandemic-driven legal principles, laws and policies. Dr David Makwerere from Zimbabwe, Susma Giri from Nepal, Professor Alok Kumar Yadav from India, Dr Habil Krystyna Niziol from Poland, Hansi Halangoda from Sri Lanka presented their papers together with other international participants.

The closing ceremony of the 1^st UAP-UMSAILS virtual international conference was graced by the prominent jurist, Dr Kamal Hossain as the chief guest, Mr C. M. Shafi Sami, Chairman, Board of Trustees and Vice-Chairman, SAILS; France Marquet, Principal Trustee of UNESCO Madanjeet Singh South Asian Foundation, Mr Justice M.A. Matin, Former Justice of the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Mr Arvindo Rodrigo, the Chairperson of SAILS, Sri-Lanka, Professor Dr Md. Sultan Mahmud, Acting Vice-Chancellor of UAP. Among others, members of BOT, faculty members, participants, and students were also present. The ceremony was concluded with a brief summary presentation of the conference and announcement of the best paper presenters by the chair.