The Bangladesh Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samity has demanded the cancellation of the upcoming Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election and the announcement of a fresh schedule,alleging irregularities and exclusion of eligible candidates.
The demand was voiced during a protest rally held on Wednesday in front of the SCBA building.
The demonstration was organised to protest against alleged irregularities and disorder in bar elections across the country, including the Supreme Court.
The SCBA election is currently scheduled to be held on 13 and 14 May.
Presided over by Advocate SMA Sabur, the rally was addressed by Jaglul Haider Afric, Zahirul Huq, Zahidul Bari, Humayun Kabir, and Anwarul Huq, among others.
Advocate Hasan Tarik Chowdhury moderated the programme.
Speakers at the event argued that lawyers contest bar elections in an individual capacity rather than on a party basis, yet many have been prevented from participating. They condemned this “undemocratic behaviour” and called for equal participation opportunities for all candidates, irrespective of their political or ideological affiliations
In his presidential speech, SMA Sabur called for the immediate cancellation of the current election process.
He demanded that a new committee be formed to announce a new schedule and oversee the election.
However, the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum has countered these demands.
Gazi Kamrul Islam Sajal, central organising secretary of the forum, told TIMES that a special general meeting of the association had previously decided that no individual affiliated with the Awami League-whose political activities are currently banned by law-can participate in the election, citing the legal restrictions placed upon the organisation
Sajal questioned whether the protest was an attempt to implement the objectives of the banned organisation, noting that identified leaders of the Awami League were seen participating in the Ganatantrik Ainjibi Samity’s programme.
Due to the ban on Awami League activities, its supporters are currently ineligible to contest the SCBA polls.
