Bits n' Pieces

A Preview of the Real Deal

Naziba Basher

	Photo: Internet

Today is the long awaited Halloween! I am sure a lot of you are wondering why I called it 'long awaited' since it is an occassion that many think is pointless in our country given that our culture does not follow this tradition.

Truth is, when I was young, I used to take part in dress-as-you-like competitions a lot. I would try and dress up as something scary that people would notice. My sister and I grew up winning these competitions -- dressing up in something bizarre, acting to be something out of this world and the whole enchilada -- we loved it all!

With the busy and hectic lives that students nowadays have to keep up with, with all the assignments to hand in on time, part time jobs, extra curricular activities, there is hardly ever time for the them to live and breath, to have fun. There is of course, Eid and Pohela Boishakh but there is hardly ever anything 'child-like' that we do on these days. It's always spending time with family, wearing grown up clothes, acting like adults and maintaining that mature 'image' in front of people. Where as Halloween, to me, is the one day that I can unleash the child inside of me. I can act like the eleven year old girl that I long to be again and just let the worries go and have some fun with my friends.

This can be your day to let go and have some good old fun. Invite your friends over for a spooky sleepover or go out somewhere in your scariest costumes and terrify people passing by. It's never too late to feel young again!

A Preview of the Real Deal

A challenging moment for a lawyer or an advocate is when he or she fights for the first time in court. Mooting competitions are quite regular at law schools. The subject was very interesting -- dealing with corporate and commercial law. Four leading law schools of the country participated in this competition -- BRAC University School of Law, Southeast University Department of Law, London College of Legal Studies (South) and Newcastle Law Academy.

	Courtesy: Farisa Kabir

The first round was held on the October 13, 2012, at the BRAC Centre. The whole make up of the competition was similar to a real trial running inside an actual court. Barrister Tanjib Ul Alam, Barrister Mustafizur Rahman Khan, Barrister Sameer Sattar and Barrister Karishma Jahan acted as the judges. A steaming fight went on for hours between these schools. And finally, the fight ended when BRAC University School of Law won against Newcastle Law Academy, while London College of Legal Studies (South) won against Southeast University.

On October 19, 2012, the two teams faced each other in the final round. The final moot was adjudicated by two Justices of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh -- Dr Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Madam Justice Farah Mahbub. This round was simply 'nail biting' with the two teams fighting it out like their lives depended on it! At the end, by a slight margin, BRAC University School of Law won the completion defeating London College of Legal Studies (South) and Newcastle Law Academy.

The prize giving ceremony was held on October 20, 2012, at the BRAC Inn Auditorium where the winner, runners up and the best speaker received cash prizes and were also offered the opportunity to undertake a two week pupilage (a legal internship/placement) at Vertex Chambers. Overall, the competition was simply exciting and one of the best ways for law students to feel how it is like to be in action!