Bangladesh university hosts refugee law bootcamp for students from 50 universities

The State University of Bangladesh (SUB) has brought together 70 students from 50 universities across the country for a day-long bootcamp aimed at deepening their understanding of refugee law and the practical challenges of protecting displaced people.

Titled Refugee Law and Protection in Practice, the programme was held at the university on 2 November 2026. It was jointly organised by the State University of Bangladesh Moot Court Society and the Bangladesh Centre for Refugee Law Studies, according to a press release. Asif Nazrul, professor in the Department of Law at the University of Dhaka, inaugurated the event, highlighting the importance of exposing future legal professionals to refugee-related challenges and strengthening their understanding of the principles underpinning refugee protection.

The bootcamp featured three academic sessions and an interactive segment, giving participants an opportunity to move beyond theoretical discussions and examine how refugee law translates into practical protection efforts. In the opening session, Abu Bakkar Siddiq, assistant professor at Bangladesh University of Professionals, explored the practical dimensions of refugee protection, emphasising the realities and challenges that extend beyond established legal frameworks.

The second session, titled Expression Session, was led by Md Jahedul Islam, lecturer at American International University-Bangladesh. It encouraged students to articulate their opinions, engage with differing viewpoints and develop confidence in expressing their ideas. The third session, Connecting Refugee Law, Research and Humanitarian Action, was conducted by Sakhawat Sajjat Sejan, executive director of the Bangladesh Centre for Refugee Law Studies. He examined how legal expertise, academic research and humanitarian initiatives can complement one another to strengthen refugee protection.

The programme concluded with feedback on protection mapping, creative exercises and an award ceremony. Participants reflected on their learning experiences and took part in competitions and interactive activities designed to build confidence, encourage collaboration and reinforce their understanding of refugee protection. By bringing together aspiring legal professionals from institutions across Bangladesh, the bootcamp provided a platform for academic exchange and practical engagement with one of the most pressing humanitarian and legal challenges of the present time.