The Bangladesh Bar Council has taken no decision stating that a person cannot become an advocate after the age of 35, according to Zainul Abedin, vice chairman of the organisation.
Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he clarified the council’s position on the matter.
His statement came after comments regarding fixing 35 years as the maximum age limit for enrolment as advocates created reactions among lawyers and apprentice lawyers across the country. Against this backdrop, the vice chairman addressed the issue.
Abedin explained that in the 15-member Bar Council, the attorney general serves as the ex-officio chairman and has no voting rights on policy matters.
He noted that the vice chairman is elected by the votes of the 14 elected members, and only elected members hold voting rights. As vice chairman, he leads the elected members, and decisions on various matters are taken after discussions with lawyers across the country.
He said an extended meeting of the Bar Council takes place every year, involving elected and ex-officio members as well as presidents and general secretaries of all bar associations in the country.
However, no such meeting was held regarding setting an age limit, nor has the Bar Council made any decision on the matter.
Asked about comments by the law minister on setting the age limit, Abedin said the law minister, as a government representative, may make various statements, but how that statement will be accepted will be determined by the country’s lawyers.
He added that no law would be passed based on his or the chairman’s opinion. He said let such a law on age determination be passed first before anything can be said about it, noting it has not yet become a law.
Earlier, Md Ruhul Quddus Kajal, attorney general and chairman of the Bar Council, said a decision had been made to fix 35 years as the maximum age limit for enrolment as advocates. On 13 October, he said this decision would take effect from 1 January 2030.
On that day, speaking at an event on the Supreme Court premises, Md Asaduzzaman, law minister, said initiatives were being taken to close the path to becoming an advocate after the age of 35.
Looking towards the attorney general on stage, he said a decision had already been made. After the matter was published in the media, widespread reactions were created among lawyers and apprentice lawyers across the country.
Although the retirement age of Supreme Court judges is specified in the Constitution of Bangladesh, there is no specific age limit in any law for the retirement of lawyers, including the attorney general.
Against this backdrop, setting a maximum age limit for entry into the legal profession came into discussion.
