Pro-BNP lawyers demand re-election to Bar Council

The Supreme Court Bar Association, dominated by pro-BNP lawyers, today demanded suspension of the results of recently held elections to Bangladesh Bar Council and a re-election to it, alleging “unprecedented irregularities”.

SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon urged the chief justice to get the “unprecedented irregularities and unlawful activities” in the elections investigated by a judge and take steps for preparing a correct voter-list for holding a re-election.

Addressing a briefing at the SCBA auditorium, the SCBA secretary said a total of 1342 SCBA lawyers could not cast votes, and names of total 7,417 lawyers of Dhaka Bar Association were deleted from the voter lists.

He said many lawyers of different bars across the country could not cast their votes and if they could cast votes in a free and fair manner, pro-BNP lawyers’ panel – Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel would win all the 14 posts.

Mahbub Uddin Khokon, a former BNP lawmaker, also alleged Attorney General Mahbubey Alam and law ministry have ensured victory of the ruling Awami League-backed lawyers' panel in the Bar Council elections held on August 26. 

As per unofficial results of the elections, AL-backed lawyers' panel Sammilito Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad secured 10 out of 14 executive member posts and Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel bagged the rest. The elected members will take the office for the next three years.

Contacted, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam ruled out the allegations made by the SCBA secretary.

He said the elections to Bar Council were held in a very free and fair manner and there was no irregularity in the election.

SCBA secretary’s allegations are false and baseless, he added.