Feature

Law is an Instrument of Achieving Justice - Dr. Abdullah Al Faruque

Interview taken by Tabassum Mokhduma on behalf of Star Campus

Law is a distinctive social institution, a collection of sets of propositions, a source of rights, duties and powers. It is the regime that orders human activities and relations through systematic application of the force of politically organized society, or through social pressure, backed by force, in such a society. It's impossible to imagine a well-balanced society without law. Because it is law that distinguishes right and wrong and that's why it is inconceivable to overlook the importance of law in our life. Keeping this in mind, Star Campus (SC) recently spoke to Dr. Abdullah Al Faruque (AAF), Associate Professor & Chairman, Department of Law, University of Chittagong (CU).

SC: Why studying law is important?
AAF: Law is one of the vibrant disciplines. In this globalised world, importance of law can hardly be over emphasised. Law is an instrument of achieving justice, rights and entitlements. Because law helps in determining approaches towards understanding, democratic governance, rule of law, individual's role in and responsibility to society etc. In a country like ours where many people are unaware of their legal constitutional rights, studying law not only enables one to understand his rights but also work towards social emancipation.

SC: How much of practical classes are included in syllabus?
AAF: Practical classes in the syllabus constitutes the heart of law as a subject, as it is intensely a practical discipline. The Department of Law of CU is pioneer in introducing practical class in the syllabus. We have a separate subject on Clinical Legal Education in the 4th year of LL-B (Honours) course where we conduct Mock Trial, Court Attendance and other practical activities. The very objective of the Clinical Legal Programme is to provide practical skills on drafting negotiations, marshalling of facts, presentation of argument. Apart from this we have a subject on Drafting and Convincing in 4th year LL-B (Honours) course, which is very much essential for providing practical orientation for law students. Furthermore, our Faculty Members diligently focus on case materials in their respective subjects to highlight what is happening in the real world. Moreover we are very much aware of the sociological approach of law, which makes a distinction between law in book and law in action. In this way we make a bridge between theoretical and practical aspects of law.

SC: Is the syllabus relevant to present day problems?
AAF: We are very much aware of it. Law is changing as society is changing rapidly. So this is equally true for updating and modernising law syllabus in such a way that legal study can meet changing needs of society. Keeping this in mind, we are constantly revising and updating syllabus of our department. Our syllabus, from its very inception was designed in most sophisticated, modern and relevant way in the context of the needs of the legal community. In this regard it should be mentioned that our department started its journey in 1992 with the most modern syllabus in Bangladesh. However, with increasing globalisation, changing needs of the legal community and growing importance of trade and commerce, we have very recently revised our syllabus in both LL-B (Honours) and L.L.M. course. In the newly designed syllabus we have included Legal Research Methodology, Economics, English for Law and Corporate Law in the Honours level. We have also introduced Refugee and Humanitarian Law, Environmental Law and Trade Law in the syllabus of L.L.M.

SC: What modern methods of teaching are used by the faculty?
AAF: There are mainly two types of teaching methods i.e. traditional lecture method where students are mainly the listeners and the other is the participatory and interactive class lecture method where students actively participate and interact with teachers. The latter one is considered most useful and modern method of teaching. We are trying our best to make the class lectures participatory and interactive as much as possible. However, adoption of particular teaching method depends on motivation and commitment of the concerned teachers.

SC: How would you evaluate the intelligence of present generation students?
AAF: Actually, intelligence of a student depends on many things like the knowledge they acquire, performance in the professional life, their aim etc. Students of present generation are different from students of our times. In this world of globalisation and information technology, students tend to face more competition. But they are having more opportunities too. As they are getting influenced by this globalised world, they are very much eager to have immediate benefit all the time. But we can't blame them for this. What we can do is guide them properly so that they can achieve their desired goal and at the same time be committed to society for the advancement of the humanity.

SC: Thank you sir for sharing your views with us.
AAF: Thank you too and of course, thanks to Star Campus and all its reader.