Making justice more than a definition: Sumaiya Razzak’s story

Sumaiya Razzak (Alumna, SoL)  has recently become a Hardiman scholar at the University of Galway, where she is currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD), conducting research on women’s access to justice through an intersectional socio-legal lens.

Sumaiya’s journey so far has been nothing but a story of dedication and purpose. Growing up, she witnessed how women around her were being socially disregarded. This gravitated her towards Law, as she wanted to comprehend how systems work, rights are framed, and policies leave an impact on reality.

BRAC University was a major turning point in her life; she thanks her faculty members who encouraged her to think critically, to challenge systems, and to connect academic learning with real-world issues. Additionally, her journey of LLM equipped her with the courage to question international laws in lieu of simply memorising them to boost grades. Her time at the Centre for Peace and Justice (CPJ) kept her actively engaged with the marginalised communities through diverse internships and research programmes. That’s when she realised justice must be ensured in “reality” instead of being just “defined”.

Currently, her work focuses on women whose stories are directly engaged with injustice in regard to gender, ethnicity, displacement and poverty. Life abroad gets quite unpredictable, as she notes, and it is her discipline and commitment to the cause that keeps her going. 

For aspiring students, her advice is to ask important questions, see the world through a curious lens, and more importantly, take initiative. Looking ahead, Sumaiya hopes that her work contributes to making justice more accessible. In her words, “My goal is to create work that doesn’t just sit on shelves but influences real change. I want my research to matter, to women, to communities, and to the broader fight for justice.”