Tabassum’s meritorious adventure of law
Tabassum Hasnat (Junior, SoL) recently presented a paper in LEB–BSIL-UAP International Law Conference 2025 at the University of Asia Pacific (UAP). Her paper excelled among 71 submissions from 40 different universities across three countries. Titled Beyond Scapegoating: Reimagining Justice for Security Force Abuses under International Law, her topic stemmed from rage and personal experiences — “This topic was not only close to my heart, but also crucial for a nation that wants to rebuild itself towards democracy and a culture of accountability,” she commented.
Interestingly enough, Tabassum entered extemporaneously. “I just wanted to seize this opportunity without any expectations,” she shared. The research focused on how foot soldiers are scapegoated while the orchestrators remain unscathed.
When asked about the impact of these conferences in building up accountability mechanisms in Bangladesh, she reflected, “A year ago we wouldn’t have imagined being able to talk about the abuses committed by the country’s security sector. Today we are able to do so, with solutions to actually build a culture of accountability. Spaces like these are where we come together to share the same stage, the same rage, and the same hope to hold perpetrators accountable and engage in exchange of dialogues, ideas, frameworks to pave ways for such accountability and not just vaguely demand for justice.”
Participating was an enriching experience for Tabassum. As a tribute to the spirit of the July revolution, the conference served as a platform to address certain elements of the uprising through the lens of international law. According to the aspiring lawyer, the most rewarding aspect was the privilege of being included in a legal process without any fear of repercussions or censorship. But few sobering realities of the Bangladeshi legal system were revealed — “It was infuriating to see so much on pen and paper but none of it materialising.”
Echoing the words of Charles Bukowski, “Find what you love and let it kill you”, Tabassum urges her peers to create a tangible impact. With relentless passion and courage from dedicated changemakers she firmly believes that Bangladesh’s legal system will see better days.
