The first session of the 5th National Law Olympiad, organized by Society for Critical Legal Studies (SCLS) of Department of Law at Chittagong University (CU), was successfully held on Friday at the CU campus.
The opening ceremony was graced by Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman, as the chief guest.
The session was presided over by Professor Dr. Rakiba Nabi, Head of Department of Law at CU and Moderator of Society for Critical Legal Studies (SCLS).
Distinguished guests in attendance included Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Zakir Hossain; District and Sessions Judge and Judge of Nari O Shishu Nirjaton Daman Tribunal, Chattogram, Ferdous Ara; Dean of the Faculty of Law at CU, Professor Dr. Mohammad Jafar Ullah Talukder and Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh, Ahsanul Karim.
The event was hosted by Lamia Taj Noor, a senior member of SCLS.
Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Faruque, Adviser of SCLS and faculty member of the Department of Law at CU, delivered the keynote speech.
In his opening remarks, Attorney General Md. Asaduzzaman paid tribute to the martyrs of July and emphasized the urgent need for environmental protection. "The right to a healthy environment is directly linked to our right to life," he stated. "When the environment is threatened, our very existence is also at risk."
He called for unity in the environmental movement and urged collective action to save rivers, reduce air pollution, and ensure a sustainable planet for future generations.
Dhaka Metropolitan Sessions Judge Md. Zakir Hossain remarked that legal education extends beyond textbooks. “Law is not something you can fully learn in a classroom—it has to be experienced firsthand,” he said.
He also highlighted the importance of effective implementation, noting that while Bangladesh has laws in place, enforcement remains a significant challenge.
Professor Dr. Abdullah Al Faruque stressed the legal implications of the climate crisis, saying, “Climate change is no longer a distant threat—it is a full-fledged global crisis with profound legal, moral and humanitarian consequences. Rising sea levels, extreme weather events, displacement and biodiversity loss are not future risks—they are current realities. In this context, the law must evolve not only to interpret existing frameworks but to restructure them, enabling meaningful responses to the climate emergency.”
Bringing together some of the brightest legal minds from across the country, the Olympiad features over 40 teams representing more than 30 universities.
This year’s competition is structured into five dynamic rounds: Pictorial Plea Round, Rebellious Spirit Round, Critical Eye Round, Reform Assembly Round and the final Symposium Round.
The primary goal of this year’s National Law Olympiad is to raise awareness among young law students about environmental law and climate justice, while fostering their abilities in legal reasoning, critical thinking, and structured debate.
AH/SH
