Dhaka:Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs Minister Md Asaduzzaman emphasized the importance of humanitarian values, professional competence, integrity, and commitment for success in the legal profession. He highlighted these elements while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 17th Henry Dunant Memorial Moot Court Competition 2026 at the IUB auditorium in Bashundhara.
According to Bangladesh Sangbad Sangstha, Md Asaduzzaman stated that a lawyer's primary duty is to present proper legal arguments for their clients, regardless of financial means. The minister underscored the need for lawyers to discharge their responsibilities with sincerity and dedication, especially when individuals in distress place their trust and hopes in legal professionals.
The competition, jointly organized by the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) and IUB, serves as a platform for students to understand international humanitarian law and develop skills in legal application and argumentation. Md Asaduzzaman noted the legal profession's challenges, which require full-time commitment, professionalism, and thorough research, beyond just a focus on financial gain.
He further described providing free legal assistance to disadvantaged individuals as a form of "professional zakat" for lawyers, emphasizing the priority of humanitarian values and responsibility. Addressing the younger generation, he encouraged them to lead with talent, wisdom, and commitment to build a livable world for future generations.
The event was chaired by IUB Vice-Chancellor Prof M Tamim, with contributions from other notable speakers, including the Chairman of the university's Board of Trustees Didar A Hossain, ICRC Head of Delegation in Bangladesh Nicolas Flury, and Adviser to IUB's School of Law Prof Borhan Uddin Khan. The competition saw participation from 29 university teams, with 16 advancing to the quarter-finals.