Grand Closing Ceremony of 6th NILS Mooting School held on online

Fatima Zahra Ahasan Raisa: Intending to increase & nourish the mooting capacity of law students, the Bangladesh chapter of Network for International Law Students, a non-profit organization, commenced a one-month long mooting course which ended through a grand closing ceremony on 26th September 2020 in an online platform through zoom.

The closing ceremony started by dedicating the 6th NILS Mooting School as a tribute to Late Professor Dr. M Shah Alam, Former Dean, University of Chittagong, and Former Chairman (Acting) of the Bangladesh Law Commission.

The participants of this mooting course included law students of different universities from the whole of Bangladesh. Under the supervision of the Joint coordinating Heads, Lutfunnahar Shancyi & Mohammed Zahirul Hoq 16 coordinators coordinated this one-month long interactive certificate course.11 representatives from different universities represented their institutions as University Representatives.

Due to the pandemic situation, this one-month long mooting course was held online. Different mooting experts from home and abroad conducted the sessions on the art of mooting. It included different engagement sessions like a word puzzle, debate competition, oral submission, review writing, memorial writing, write up tasks & various other activities through which participants were made familiar with mooting practically. Among all the participants, the best performers in different tasks were recognized through different awards, namely, ‘Best reviewer award’, Best write-up award’, ‘Best Speaker award’, ‘Aini Banglar Olongkar award’, ‘Best performer award’ & ‘Special mention award’. The Best Performers of the weeks were Abdullah Al Maruf, University of Rajshahi; Akram Hosen, Chittagong Independent University, and Mohammad. Tafser Ahmed, Daffodil International University. The Best reviewers of the weeks were Rahatul Karim Nil, Southeast University; Tafser Ahmed, Daffodil International University; Noman Alam, International Islamic University.

The AINI BANGLA OLONGKAR award was achieved by Noman Alam, International Islamic University; Nayem Khan, University of Rajshahi, and Nowrin Jahan, Southeast University. The Best writer was Tafser Ahmed, Daffodil International University. The Best speaker was Jannatul Ayesha, Barisal University.

Distinguished guest speakers of the closing  ceremony included Prakat Khati, Attorney in Law, Nepal, MPP, University of California, USA;

Roksana Akther, Chairman & Assistant Professor, Department of Law, Comilla University; Tapos Kumar Das, Chairman & Assistant Professor, Department of Law and Justice Jahangirnagar University; DR. S M Masum Billah, Associate Professor, Department of Law, Jagannath University; Christine Richardson, Associate Professor & Chairperson, Department of land Management & Law, Jagannath University; Professor Dr. Farhana Helal Mehtab, Associate Dean,  Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Daffodil International University; as Guest of Honor Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman, Former Chairman, National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh & Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka; and as Honourable Chief Guest Justice Madam Naima Haider, Honorable  Justice of the High Court Division, Supreme Court of Bangladesh. The program was chaired by Professor Abm Abu Noman, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Chittagong.

 The speakers appreciated the initiative of this fully furnished course on mooting. In the speech, Professor Dr. Mizanur Rahman mentioned that the struggle of eminent legal scholars for clinical legal education seems not to be gone in vain by witnessing the existence of NILS Mooting School. Honorable Justice Madam Naima Haider appreciated the activities of NILS Bangladesh for being awarded as the best chapters among 28 countries and emphasized to continue the good work for the community.

In welcoming speech, Ms. Nasrin Sultana, Founder of NILS Bangladesh &  NILS Mooting School praised the initiative of NILS Bangladesh for continuing the legacy since 2017. Besides, Mohammod Mamun, President, NILS Bangladesh, pronounced his gratitude to the guests and briefed the activities of this month-long mooting course.

Mohammad Pizuar Hossain, Senior Lecturer, Department of Law, East West University, one of the resource persons of 6th NILS Mooting School, in his speech, stated his experience as a part of 6th NILS Mooting School. Another distinguished Facilitator and Adjudicator, Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Mokarramus Shaklan emphasized learning mooting skills in his speech.

The whole event was anchored by Lutfunnahar Shancyi, Joint Coordinating Head, 6th NILS Mooting School; Vice President (Advocacy), NILS BD, and Fatima Zahra Ahasan Raisa, Coordinator, 6th NILS Mooting School; General Secretary, NILS CU Chapter.

After the Formal closing ceremony, a cultural ceremony was conducted by the coordinators of Mooting School with the participation of participants & organizers.

Fatima Zahra Ahasan Raisa: Coordinator, 6th NILS Mooting School.