The first day of voting for the Supreme Court Bar Association’s 2026-2027 session election ended on Wednesday with a record low turnout of 1,771 votes — the lowest first-day figure in the last five elections.
Voting began at 10am and continued until 5pm with a one-hour break at noon. Polling will resume on Thursday.
A total of 11,097 lawyers are eligible to vote. In 2024, 3,261 votes were cast on the first day out of 7,883 voters. In 2023, 2,217 out of 8,602 voted on day one, while 2022 saw 2,823 votes from 8,623 voters. The 2021 election also recorded 2,823 first-day votes from 7,721 voters.
Three panels are in the field: the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel (Blue Panel), the Jamaat-backed Lawyers Unity Panel (Green Panel), and the NCP-backed Red-Green Panel.
Awami League supporters were barred from contesting following a special general meeting decision, as the party’s activities remain banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Their nomination papers were cancelled during scrutiny.
From the Blue Panel, AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon is contesting for president, with Mohammad Ali for general secretary.
The Green Panel has fielded Abdul Baten for president and AKM Rezaul Karim Khandaker for general secretary.
The NCP-backed Red-Green Panel has fielded a partial panel, with SM Azmal Hossain contesting for general secretary. Several independent candidates are also in the race, including Yunus Ali Akanda for president.
Voting continues Thursday.
