The 2nd DUMCS-TIB Anti-Corruption Moot Court Competition 2019 has come to the conclusion. Following a nail-biting finale in the courtroom, Team representing the University of Dhaka emerged as the champion seeing off BRAC University team in the final showdown. The competition, which has appeared as the largest national moot court competition ever in Bangladesh in terms of number of competing teams, ended with the lively arguments of the 26 teams from the different universities of the country through the semifinals, final round, award-giving and valedictory ceremony held on 30 November at the faculty of law, University of Dhaka. 

The 3-day anti-corruption moot competition, second of its kind, was organized by Transparency International Bangladesh (TIB) in collaboration with Dhaka University Moot Court Society (DUMCS), the Faculty of Law, University of Dhaka to enhance awareness among the students of law faculties across Bangladesh on the anti-corruption legal regime. Organized as part of a diverse set of programmes to mark the upcoming international anti-corruption day on 9 December, a total of 104 participants including 78 students of law and 26 coaches attended the competition.   

The team from University of Dhaka, comprising of Ali Mahraf and Sal Sabil Chowdhury as Oralists and Md. Azhar Uddin Bhuiyan as Researcher emerged as the champion of the competition. BRAC University team comprising of Rakibul Islam Bhuiyan and Md. Mosabbir Hossain as Oralists and Ayan Rahman Khan as the Researcher became the Runner-Up of the competition. Ali Mashraf from the University of Dhaka became the Best Mooter, while Tahsin Bin Zafar from the University of Rajshahi and Sal Sabil Chowdhury from the University of Dhaka were the second and third best mooters respectively. Md. Azhar Uddin Bhuiyan from the University of Dhaka became the Best Researcher, while Muhammad Sajid Hasan from Jagannath University and Rabeya Dewan from Jahangirnagar University became the second and third best researchers respectively. The University of Dhaka also won the best memorial award while Jahangirnagar University and the University of Chittagong won the second and third best memorial awards respectively. The spirit of the moot award was presented to Jatiya Kabi Kazi Nazrul Islam University, Trishal, Mymensingh.

The grand finale was adjudged by Honorable Mr. Justice Md. Abdul Matin, former Judge, Appellate division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; and Honorable Mr. Justice Shamim Hasnain, former Judge, High Court division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh. Honorable Judges of the subordinate courts, academicians and other legal professionals adjudicated in the preliminary round and quarter-finals held on 29 November. 

At the valedictory ceremony, Honorable Mr. Justice Md. Abdul Matin and Honorable Mr. Justice Shamim Hasnain, former Judges of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh; Prof. Dr. Md. Rahmat Ullah, Dean, Faculty of Law and President, Dhaka University Moot Court Society (DUMCS); and TIB’s Executive Director Dr. Iftekharuzzaman handed away the awards and certificates of participation at the competition to the winning participants teams and individuals. Among others, Prof. Dr. Sumaiya Khair, Adviser-Executive Management, TI Bangladesh, and Prof. Dr. Nazmuzzaman Bhuian, Moderator, DUMCS were also present at the ceremony.  

The distinguished guests praised the depth of research and articulate oral submissions of the teams during the competition and counseled the participants to stay in the process of continuous learning. Mentioning different instances of corruption in Bangladesh, they conveyed their gratitude towards TIB for their actions towards fighting corruption and bringing these experiences to light to ensure justice. They underscored the necessity of honesty, integrity, moral strength along with legal knowledge for the legal professionals and lauded the legal knowledge, strategies of arguments and oratory skills of the participants and hoped of their effective role in preventing corruption.

Dr. Iftekharuzzaman observed that the successful completion of the competition point towards a bright future of the anti-corruption judiciary in Bangladesh. Dr. Zaman hoped that the clinical legal knowledge gathered in the competition will help the participants immensely to ensure the successful conviction of the corrupt people. He also thanked the faculty of Law, University of Dhaka for extending collaborative support for organizing such innovation competition, which is considered to be first among more than 100 chapters of Transparency International. 

The participants at the competition experienced practical courtroom experiences and challenges by participating in the competition. Furthermore, it allowed them to widen their horizon of legal and analytical knowledge. With their articulate rhetoric and well-analyzed arguments and counter arguments, they made arguments against corrupt practices and sought solutions via legal means on such corruption. 

Earlier, the 2nd National Anti-Corruption Moot Court Competition 2019 commenced on 28 November with the participation of 26 teams among which 13 teams from out of capital and 13 participated from the capital. 

Considering that the competition will enrich the clinical legal knowledge of the students, TI Bangladesh pioneered such innovative competition among more than 100 other chapters of Transparency International back in 2017, to harness the argumentative skills of young law students across the country and encourage the students of law in acquiring knowledge on anti-corruption laws to ensure successful prosecution of corruption cases.

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