The BNP-backed lawyers’ panels have suffered consecutive defeats in five district-level lawyers’ association elections, raising concerns over the party’s grip within the legal community.
Following a sweeping victory in the 13th parliamentary election, the party’s ongoing struggles in the judicial domain have sparked discussions about leadership and strategy.
Amid the situation, the country’s largest lawyers’ association, the Dhaka Bar Association, is holding elections this Wednesday and Thursday.
Several legal experts within the BNP are attributing these defeats to a lack of coordination among its leadership, which they argue has eroded the group’s influence across the country’s legal circles.
They said the term of the BNP-backed Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum committee expired a year and a half ago, and the senior leaders of that committee are unable to devote time due to their national responsibilities. As a result, communication gaps have arisen.
Gazee Kamrul Islam Sajal, the organizing secretary of the Forum, told TIMES of Bangladesh, “Due to a lack of coordination and decision-making, we have not achieved the desired results in the lawyers’ association elections.”
Just four days after the national elections, on February 16, BNP-backed lawyers’ panel lost in the Sunamganj Bar Association election. Of the 15 positions, Awami League-supported lawyers won 10, including president and general secretary. The Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum secured five positions.
Afterwards, BNP-backed lawyers lost in elections in Cox’s Bazar, Brahmanbaria, Madaripur, and later Pirojpur as well.
As the Dhaka Bar Association election looms large, BNP supporters are increasingly anxious about their prospects. The Supreme Court Lawyers’ Association elections are also scheduled for mid-next month.
Tensions are rising, as several candidates from within the BNP ranks have entered the fray for special positions, deepening the division within their own ranks.
This fragmentation of the vote could undermine the party’s chances of securing any meaningful positions in the upcoming election.
As a result, there are concerns among some members of the Forum that the division of BNP votes may have a negative impact on the results.
The central president of the Forum, Zainul Abedin, senior vice-president AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon were elected as members of the 13th parliament, and General Secretary Kaiser Kamal is serving as the deputy speaker of parliament after winning in the elections.
Joint secretary No 1, Ruhul Kuddus Kajol, is the attorney general, while joint secretary No 2, Omar Faruq Faruqi, is serving as the public prosecutor for Dhaka city.
Contacted for comments on the situation, Kaiser Kamal told TIMES, “I am no longer on the committee, so I cannot comment on this.”
Mahbub Uddin Khokon also refused to comment on the matter. Following his advice, several attempts were made to contact the president, Zainul Abedin, but he did not respond to calls.
