Bangladesh International Arbitration Centre (BIAC), for the first time in the history of Bangladesh, organised an Inter University Arbitration Contest from September to October 2020. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the entire month-long competition took place virtually on Zoom. After two nail-biting preliminary rounds, the teams representing University of Dhaka and Bhuiyan Academy advanced to the final round. The final took place on Saturday, 17 October 2020.

Barrister Ajmalul Hossain QC, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, was the chairman of the tribunal, and Barrister Sameer Sattar and Barrister Margub Kabir, Advocates, Supreme Court of Bangladesh, were the members of the tribunal for the final round. The case of the final addressed complex legal issues on contract law, international commercial arbitration law, international petroleum and energy law, international environmental law etc. After extensive arguments, examination and cross-examination of witnesses, production of evidence and summation, the arbitration panel adjudged University of Dhaka as the champion. The team consists of Ali Mashraf, Jalal Uddin Ahmed, Bushra Haque, Raihan Rahman, Sudipta Bhattacharjee and Nabila Rubaiyat. Jalal Uddin Ahmed also won the best participant award.

Mr. Muhammad A. (Rumee) Ali, CEO, BIAC, delivered the closing remarks after the final. He emphasised that BIAC organized this virtual mock arbitration contest for the first time in Bangladesh's history to get the students acquainted with the procedure of international arbitration and to provide them the practical experience of alternative dispute resolution (ADR).

The writer is a member of the champion team.