Dhaka, April 27: The Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has imposed a ban on lawyers affiliated with the Awami League from participating in upcoming elections, citing legal grounds. These elections are scheduled for May 13-14, and Awami League supporters will not be able to contest.
Local media reported that the decision was finalized during an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) held on Sunday afternoon in Dhaka, attended by approximately 300 lawyers. The meeting was presided over by Humayun Kabir Manju, a senior vice president of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and SCBA.
According to sources, the prominent newspaper The Daily Star noted that most attendees were supporters of the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. Barrister Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman Milan, the SCBA secretary who organized the EGM, stated that around 100 members had previously requested the SCBA leadership to convene a meeting to prevent Awami League-affiliated lawyers from running, in light of the Anti-Terrorism Act of 2009.
Milan explained that the EGM was conducted accordingly, and the decision was based on the opinions of general members. He indicated that lawyers associated with the Awami League’s ‘Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad’ or ‘Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad’ will not be permitted to contest in the SCBA elections.
However, the SCBA secretary clarified that these lawyers would still be allowed to run as independents. The elections on May 13-14 will select 14 executive officers of the SCBA, including the president and secretary, for a one-year term, as per the previous decision of the current executive body.
Recently, an international human rights organization, Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF), criticized the recent patterns of “irregularities” and “discriminatory behavior” against legal professionals. They condemned the disqualification of Awami League-affiliated lawyers based solely on political ideology in the Bangladesh Bar Association elections.
JMBF alleged that these lawyers are being obstructed from participating in elections, with police exerting pressure against them in various districts, including Munshiganj, Mymensingh, Thakurgaon, Panchagarh, Jhalokati, Khulna, Narail, and Sunamganj, under the BNP government.
Expressing serious concern, the human rights organization called for the creation of an environment where lawyers of all affiliations can exercise their democratic rights. Earlier this month, the Awami League condemned a parliamentary bill that imposed a complete ban on the party, labeling it “shameful” and a direct assault on democratic principles.
This statement followed the passage of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Bill 2026 by Parliament, which retained the provisions of the Anti-Terrorism (Amendment) Ordinance 2025 issued by the previous Muhammad Yunus interim government.
Leave a Comment