Gulam Rabbani :
The election of the Bangladesh Bar Council, a licensing and regularity body for all the lawyers of Bangladesh, is scheduled to be held on May 25 this year.
Candidates of the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel, a platform of the pro-BNP lawyers, have already started a massive campaign in the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) and other bars across the country centering the election. They are also campaigning through facebook, SMS and handbills.
Banners and festoons with pictures of the candidates have been hung in the Supreme Court Bar Association and Dhaka Bar Association buildings as part of the campaign. Leaflets containing various assurances are being circulated to the lawyers.
Sources said, the candidates nominated for the general seats by the Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel have been conducting campaign and introductory programs with the lawyers at almost every day and seeking support and votes.
Advocate AJ Mohammad Ali, Advocate Zainul Abedin, Advocate Muhammad Jasim Uddin Sarker, Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokan, Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Advocate Mohammad Abdul Matin are vying for the general seven seats of the Bangladesh Bar Council election this year from this panel. Advocate Mohammad Mohsin Miah is contesting for the seat of ‘A Group’ from the panel. The
others candidates from this panel are— Advocate Adbul Baki for the seat of ‘B Group’, Advocate ASM Badrul Anwar for the seat of ‘C Group’, Advocate ATM Foez Uddin for the seat for ‘D Group’, Advocate Kazi Enayet Hossain for the seat of ‘E Group’, Advocate Mohammad Mainul Ahsan for the seat of ‘F Group’ and Advocate Shafiqul Islam Tuku for the seat of ‘G Group’.
Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal said, “We are hopeful to win the election in full panel. The leadership who are bearing the offices of the Bar Council cannot fulfill the expectations of the lawyers during the Covid-19 situation. They failed to take Bar Council test in due time. The organization now needs youth-oriented representatives. If we win, we will be able to meet the expectations of lawyers.”
The last election was held on May 14 in 2018 in which lawyers loyal to the ruling Awmi League bagged 12 out of 14 seats of the Bar Council and the lawyers loyal to the BNP and Jamaat bagged two seats only.
Bangladesh Bar Council Chairman and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin on March 21 this year issued the election schedule of the Bar Council. The voting will take place from 10.00am to 5.00pm on May 25, as per the schedule.
A full panel of the pro-Awmi League lawyers is also in the field for their campaign. A total of 35 candidates are contesting for the seven general seats and 23 candidates are contesting for the seven regional seats.
