The Sabuj Panel, representing pro-Jamaat-e-Islami lawyers, has expressed serious concerns regarding the integrity of the upcoming Dhaka Bar Association election, specifically highlighting fears over the proper casting and counting of votes.
The panel submitted a formal application to the Secretary of the Bangladesh Bar Council on Sunday, and subsequently held a press conference in front of the Supreme Court Annex Building.
The application, signed by the Sabuj Panel’s presidential candidate SM Kamal Uddin, demanded the appointment of an equal number of election commissioners from both participating panels.
It noted that according to the constitution, the commission consists of a chief election commissioner, 10 commissioners, and an additional 100 lawyers as members.
While tradition dictates that participating panels should have equal representation, the BNP-backed Blue Panel currently holds eight commissioner positions, including the Chief Election Commissioner, whereas the Sabuj Panel has been granted only three.
The application described this disparity as a clear obstacle to a transparent, fair, and acceptable election.
Speaking at the press conference, SM Kamal Uddin stated that a sense of panic exists among general lawyers regarding whether they will be able to exercise their right to vote.
He urged the chief election commissioner and the leaders of the current committee to ensure a peaceful environment where voters can cast their ballots without hindrance.
Senior Supreme Court lawyer Mohammad Shishir Manir further remarked that there is a visible lack of transparency and accountability in the management of the election.
He argued that the current atmosphere of fear would not have arisen if both panels had equal representation of five members each, as observed in the past.
Manir expressed concern over an apparent “mechanism” within the election system, describing both the voting and counting processes as “risky” under the current circumstances.
He called upon those involved with the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Forum to create a fair environment and earn the trust of the legal community. Additionally, he placed a demand for votes to be counted using an electronic system.
