2nd International law Fest dazzlingly organized by NILS Bangladesh
Samin Yeasar Islam: The Bangladesh Chapter of the Network for International Law Students (NILS), with the event support of Liberation War Museum, has magnificently organized the 2nd International Law Fest 2020 which has been held from 17 to 19 December 2020. This is the second time NILS Bangladesh has organized such an astounding event. Due to the pandemic situation, this year’s Law Fest held virtually. The theme of this year’s event was “International Conflict & Human Rights”. The 2nd International Law Fest 2020 has sincerely been dedicated to the memory of Martyrs of our great Liberation War 1971.
The three-day-long law fest is the result of splendid hard work done by organising committee lead by Luthfunnahar Shancyi, Vice President (Advocacy), NILS Bangladesh with cooperation of the national board members and a team comprising of 40 organisers and volunteers. The 2nd International Law Fest 2020 had 3 significant segments for participants. Firstly, the ‘2nd International Humanitarian Law Moot Court Competition 2020’ where 30 teams participated including a team from Nepal and remarkable 30 adjudicators of high profiled legal personalities. Panel Adjudicators of the Grand Finale of the Moot Court Competition were Nicole Janisiewicz, Legal Advisor, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) &Former Attorney in the Office of the Prosecutor, ICTY; Prakat Khati, Attorney in Law, Nepal &MPP, University of California, USA; Mokarramus Shaklan, Advocate, Bangladesh Supreme Court. Secondly, ‘International Poster Presentation Competition on Gender-Based Violence & Justice for The Rape Victims’ where 47 participant/teams presented their posters on the given topic; along with participants from Bangladesh students from different Universities of Thailand and India also participated in this segment. For the poster presentation, NILS Bangladesh engaged prestigious experts on the required field and legal personalities from well esteemed and eminent NGOs and organizations from home & abroad as Adjudicator. Ashok Karmakar, Chief Art Director, Prothom Alo; Christine Richardson, Associate Professor & Chairperson, Department of land Management & Law, Jagannath University; Pia Conradsen, Lawyer and Program Associate, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR),Indonesia were the Adjudicators of the Grand Finale of Poster Presentation Round. Finally, the segment “International Webinar on Justice Mechanisms for Genocide” where high profile Experts from the Bangladesh, USA, Indonesia, Australia were the Panel Discussants namely – Dr. Ridwanul Hoque, Professor, Department of Law, University of Dhaka; University Fellow, Northern Institute, Charles Darwin University, Irene Victoria Massimino, Human Rights Lawyer; Head Professor of Human Rights in Latin America, Department of International Education, National University of Tres de Febrero; Patrick Burgess, President, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR), Australian Barrister; Moderated by Nicole Janisiewicz. Distinguished Panelist discussed on the specific countries and communities which are victims of genocide to underline the available mechanisms for their justice.
The 2nd International Law Fest was glamourized by the presence of notable international and national Humanitarian Law advocates, scholars and students from home and abroad. Hon’ble Justice Md. Imman Ali, Hon’ble Justice of Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh glorified the event as Chief Guest of the inaugural ceremony held on 17th December 2020. The opening ceremony was hosted by Protyasha Ahmed Mim and Asaduzzaman Idris. The Hon’ble Justice Madam Naima Haider, Hon’ble Justice of High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh profoundly graced the event as Chief Guest of the Closing Ceremony held on 19th December 2020.Mohammad Pizuar Hossain, Senior Lecturer, East West University& Trustee, NILS Bangladesh hosted closing ceremony. Mofidul Hoque, Director, Center for the Study of Genocide and Justice & Founder Trustee, Liberation War Museum also glorified the event as Guest of Honour of the inauguration ceremony. Both the inauguration and closing ceremony was chaired by Prof. ABM Abu Noman, Dean, Faculty of Law, University of Chittagong. The special guests: Advocate Shah Monjurul Hoque, Senior lawyer, Appellate Division, Bangladesh Supreme Court, Dr. Farhana Helal Mehtab Associate Dean, Faculty of Humanities and Social Science, Daffodil International University, and Christine Richardson, Associate Prof. and Chairperson, Department of land Management and law, Jagannath University, elevated the event with their presence in the inauguration and closing ceremony. At the closing ceremony of the fest, another special guest Pratik Bakshi, Founder, NILS International & Co-Founder, World Law Forum. The closing speech of 2nd International Law fest 2020 was delivered by Luthfunnahar Shancyi, Vice President (Advocacy), NILS BD & Organizing Head, 2nd International Law fest 2020, Mr. Muhommod Mamun, President, NILS Bangladesh, Ms. Nasrin Sultana, Founder Trustee and Founding President, NILS Bangladesh, Ms. Nicole, Legal Advisor, Asia Justice and Rights (AJAR) and Irene Victoria Massimino, Human Rights Lawyer; Head Professor of Human Rights in Latin America, Department of International Education, National University of Tres de Febrero.
Awardees of the moot court competition hereby are, Champion team: BRAC University, Runner-up team: North South University, Best Advocate: Gianni Mahsina Haque from North South University (Team 2023) & Sumaiya Islam from Southern University Bangladesh (Team 2022), Best Memorial- University of Chittagong (Team 2041), Best Researcher- Asif-ul-Gani, University of Chittagong (Team 2042).The winners of second segment, the poster presentation, are: 1st Position-Rubaiyat-al-Mahim & Faiza Kamal Munmun, Comilla University, 2ndPosition-HabibaMonjur& Mohammad Abul Hasanat, Green University of Bangladesh & Aranna Hossain Sakib, Southeast University and 3rdposition- Nowrin Jahan & Snigdha Das Chaity, Southeast University, Bangladesh.
The Daily Star, Desh TV, Bangla News 24, News Now 24 and Radio Today 89.6 fm were the media partners of the 2nd International Law Fest 2020.
The 2nd International Law Fest 2020 was accomplished with an amusing Cultural Ceremony organised for the refreshment of the participants after the three-day-long event where esteemed singers from Chayanat and renowned band Doorgo performed astonishingly.
Samin Yeasar Islam: Student of Law & Justice Department, Jahangirnagar University;
Volunteer of 2nd International Law Fest 2020
