DHAKA, April 27: Members of the Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association have decided to bar lawyers affiliated with the Awami League from contesting the upcoming SCBA elections scheduled for May 13–14, 2026.
The decision was made during an extraordinary general meeting in Dhaka attended by around 300 lawyers.
The meeting was chaired by Senior Vice President Humayun Kabir Manju, who is aligned with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party.
According to reports, most attendees were supporters of BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami. SCBA Secretary Md Mahfuzur Rahman Milon said the meeting was convened after members requested a decision on whether pro-Awami League lawyers should be barred, citing the party’s ban under the Anti-Terrorism Act, 2009.
Under the decision, lawyers linked to Awami League-backed bodies such as Sammilita Ainjibi Samannay Parishad and Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad will not be allowed to contest.
However, they may still participate as independent candidates.
The SCBA elections will fill 14 executive posts, including president and secretary, for a one-year term.
The move has drawn criticism from Justice Makers Bangladesh in France, which condemned what it described as discriminatory treatment against lawyers based on political ideology.
The group alleged broader irregularities in bar association elections and cited instances of police interference in multiple districts under the BNP-led government.
Meanwhile, the Awami League has also criticised recent legal measures, including amendments to anti-terrorism laws that effectively ban the party, calling them a threat to democratic norms in Bangladesh. (IANS)
