The BNP-backed Blue Panel swept all 23 posts in the 2026–2027 executive committee elections of the Dhaka Bar Association, securing a decisive victory.
Election results were announced shortly after midnight on Friday following the completion of vote counting, officials from the Dhaka Bar Election Commission confirmed.
The BNP contested the polls in alliance with Gono Odhikar Parishad under the Blue Panel, while the rival Green Panel was formed by Jamaat-e-Islami and the National Citizen Party (NCP).
Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan of the BNP alliance was elected president with 4,468 votes, defeating SM Kamal Uddin of the Jamaat-backed panel, who received 2,179 votes. Independent candidate Md Yunus Ali Biswas polled 146 votes.
In the race for general secretary, BNP candidate Abul Kalam Khan won with 4,045 votes. His nearest rival, Abu Bakkar Siddique from the opposing alliance, secured 1,661 votes. Independent candidates Md Shahidullah and Balai Chandra Dev received 424 and 355 votes respectively.
The BNP-led panel also swept all other key positions.
Among them, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was elected senior vice president with 4,508 votes, while Abul Kalam Azad became vice president with 4,433 votes.
Other winners include Anisuzzaman Anis (treasurer), Iltumish Saudagar Anny (senior joint secretary), Mehedi Hasan Jewel (joint secretary), Khandakar Maksudul Hasan (library secretary), Marzia Hira (cultural secretary), Afzal Hossain Mridha (office secretary), Sohel Khan (sports secretary), AHM Firoz (social welfare secretary), and Shafiqul Islam Shafik (ICT secretary).
In In the executive member category, Farzana Yasmin emerged as the highest vote recipient with 4,423 votes. She was followed by Nazrul Islam Mamun (4,303 votes) and Adnan Rahman (4,275 votes). Several other BNP-backed candidates were also elected to member positions.
Following the announcement of results, the NCP-backed National Lawyers’ Alliance alleged vote manipulation and irregularities. However, Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Md Borhan Uddin rejected the allegations, stating that there was no credible basis for such claims and attributing them to groups seeking to undermine the electoral process.
Voting took place over two days on 29 and 30 April.
Of the 20,785 registered voters, 7,069 lawyers cast their ballots, reflecting a turnout of 34 percent.
The Awami League-backed White Panel did not participate in this year’s election. Reports suggest that some pro-Awami League lawyers who attempted to run as independents faced obstacles in obtaining nomination forms.
In the previous election held in February 2024, Awami League-backed candidates had won a majority of positions, with a voter turnout of 46 percent.
However, following the political upheaval in August 2024, activities of the association were disrupted, prompting the formation of an ad hoc committee by BNP- and Jamaat-aligned lawyers, which has since been overseeing its operations.
