Centre for Peace and Justice, BRAC University hosted Research Seminar on April 30, 2023, from 1 – 2 pm (Dhaka time), where esteemed socio-legal researcher Arpeeta Shams Mizan virtually joined us from Bristol, UK, to present her talk titled “Exploring Legalities in Dhaka Society: How Socio-legal Methods Work.”

Arpeeta is well known for her study on legal consciousness in postcolonial South Asian contexts. She is currently a doctoral researcher at the University of Bristol and an assistant professor of law at Dhaka University. 

In the research seminar, she discussed her groundbreaking study on legal consciousness in postcolonial Bangladeshi contexts. She shared her experiences conducting interviews for her doctorate thesis, highlighting the challenges she faced while navigating the complexities of various communities. Arpeeta confronted numerous barriers in her research, showcasing her determination to explore and understand the diverse perspectives on legal consciousness in the region.

After her enlightening presentation, Arpeeta invited audience members’ questions, which sparked a lively and engaged debate during the online session. Her intelligent responses to the guests’ questions prompted additional discussion and helped the participants better appreciate the complexity of legal consciousness and the barriers that one has to overcome while doing research. The participants had a vast idea on how the consciousness of law is necessary and the importance of a sociological approach with Law can point out modern problems and raise awareness among citizens of  Bangladesh.