Law Education
Moot Court Competition
Md. Nazmuzzaman Bhuian
Moot courts have become an indispensable part of legal curriculum with its primary objective of providing students with the substantial academic benefits that result from training in rhetoric, persuasion, organised communication, and argument so as to create a generation of able, competent, and humane lawyers who will meet the professional challenges early in their lives. In moot court, the preparation and delivery of argumentation provides students with the opportunity to think critically, develop their academic research skills, improve their communication abilities, solve problems creatively, and increase their self-confidence. The Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka takes pride of being centre of excellence, where it encourages students to take part in moots in order to have a taste of practice in court procedure and also develop certain skills that every law student should possesses, namely, art of persuasion, way of putting a case precisely and intelligibly, fluency and clear enunciation of principles of Law. Keeping this in mind, the Faculty of Law, Dhaka University has organised the Fifth Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition 2005 (Bangladesh Chapter), in collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC). ICRC is always very active in disseminating and promoting International Humanitarian Law (IHL) within academic circles. This includes developing IHL curricula for universities, conducting university teacher training programmes in IHL and organising events such as the Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition.
The competition is named in memory of Mr Henry Dunant, the co-founder of the ICRC in 1863 and spiritual father of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. Dr. Borhan Uddin Khan, Professor of Law, was the National Co-ordinator of the programme. The daylong competition was inaugurated by Professor Dr. Naima Huq, Dean, Faculty of Law, on 15 September, 2005. Pooja Ahluwalia, Legal Officer, ICRC was present on the occasion. On the basis of the criteria set by the ICRC for the eligibility of the participants in the Moot Court competition, students from four public Universities namely Dhaka University, Chittagong University, Rajshahi University and Kushtia Islamic University have participated in the Competition. Each participating University nominated a team consisting of three student members, and a coach from the faculty of the University that they represent. Chittagong University and Dhaka University made their way to the final round and Dhaka University became the Champion. The eminent Judges who were selected from the different categories such as academicians, serving and retired judges of the Supreme Court and the senior advocates of the Supreme Court judged the teams. The members of the Champion team were - Mauhfuza Liza, Shikder Muhmudur Razi and Sharin Shajahan Noami. Mahfuza Liza received the best mooter's award. The participants of the runner up team were Muhammad Khurshedul Alam Shikder, Mohammad Moinuddin and Mohammad Yusuf Ali. Professor Dr. Naima Huq, Dean, Faculty of Law and Professor Liaqat Ali Siddiqui, Chairman, Department of Law, were present in the prize giving ceremony.
The wining team will participate in the regional competition, which will be held in Delhi approximately one month after the completion of the national competitions. Thus the winning team is getting the opportunity to meet the students of the various law schools all over the region competing against each other, trying to win their cases in front of a distinguished panel of Judges and eminent Lawyers. Undoubtedly, this Henry Dunant Moot Court Competition is not only promoting the awareness of International Humanitarian Law, but also encouraging the law students of Bangladesh to prepare them with the utmost ability of competing with any law school all over the world.
The author is a lecturer, department of Law, University of Dhaka.
