The BNP-backed Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikkya Panel has decided to boycott today's voting in the Dhaka Bar Association polls for the year 2023-24, bringing allegations of irregularities and rigging against the chief election commission.

Md Khorshed Miah Alam, BNP-backed presidential candidate said on a Facebook live video last night that they observed irregularities and vote rigging.

After the end of voting on the first day yesterday, the chief election commission declared that a total of 5,028 voters had cast their votes while the BNP-backed commissioners counted a total of 4,023 votes.

Asked about irregularities and rigging, CEC Abdullah Abu told The Daily Star that the charges brought against him were totally false, fabricated and vague. The vote casting for the first day was fair and peaceful.

Moreover, the lawyers cast their votes in a festive mood.

"I am hopeful that BNP-backed candidates will join in the election today," Abu added.

Omar Faruq Faruqi, member secretary of election coordination committee of BNP-backed Blue Panel, told The Daily Star that their candidates would not stand today outside the election booth for seeking votes as part of the boycott.

A total of 46 candidates are vying for 23 posts. A total of 19,618 lawyers were allowed to cast their votes in the polls.

Earlier the election commission fixed February 22 and 23 for casting votes in the polls.

Md Mizanur Rahman Mamun and Khandakar Golam Kibria Jobayer are contesting for the posts of president and general secretary respectively from ruling party-backed White Panel while Md Khorshed Miah Alam and Sayed Nazrul Islam are running for the posts of president and general secretary respectively from BNP-backed Blue Panel.

Awami League-backed Sammilito Ainjibi Samonnay Parishad (White Panel) is contesting in the polls.

Dhaka Metropolitan Public Prosecutor Abdullah Abu is conducting the polls as Chief Election Commissioner.