Voting has begun for the Supreme Court Bar Association’s 2026–27 session election.
It started at 10am and will continue until 5pm, with a one-hour break at noon on Wednesday. Voting will also take place on Thursday following the same schedule.
A total of 41 candidates are contesting 14 posts, while 11,097 lawyers are eligible to vote. The election is being conducted under the supervision of a subcommittee led by retired Justice Miftah Uddin Chowdhury.
Three panels are in the race — the BNP-backed Nationalist Lawyers Unity Panel (Blue Panel), the Jamaat-backed Lawyers Unity Panel (Green Panel), and the NCP-supported Red-Green Panel.
Supporters of Awami League have been barred from participating, as the party’s activities remain banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act. Their nomination papers were rejected by the Bar’s special general meeting.
Awami League supporters alleged that the ad hoc committee violated the Bar’s constitution by excluding 42 candidates without proper scrutiny. They have called on lawyers to boycott the election peacefully.
BNP’s Blue Panel is fielding AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon for president, Mohammad Ali for secretary, and several others for vice president, treasurer, assistant secretary, and member posts.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Green Panel has Abdul Baten as its presidential candidate, with AKM Rezaul Karim Khondkar contesting for secretary, alongside other candidates for key posts.
The NCP-backed Red-Green Panel has put forward SM Azmal Hossain for secretary and a partial slate of candidates for assistant secretary and member positions.
Independent candidates are also contesting, including Yunus Ali Akond for president and several others for secretary and member posts.
BNP leaders claim the exclusion of Awami League supporters was based on petitions demanding that those who previously contested under the banned banner be barred.
Awami League supporters, however, denounce the move as unconstitutional and undemocratic, accusing the ad hoc committee of holding an “illegal midnight meeting” to make arbitrary decisions.
They argue that the Bar elections are traditionally festive, transparent, and participatory, but excluding over 40 candidates undermines constitutional rights and justice.
In the 2024–2025 election, BNP-backed Mahbub Uddin Khokon was elected president, while Awami League-backed Shah Manjurul Haque won the secretary post. BNP candidates secured five positions, and Awami League candidates won seven.
