ASHUTOSH SARKAR and EMRUL HASAN BAPPI

Around 200 lawyers aligned with the Awami League -- a party whose activities are currently banned under the Anti-Terrorism Act -- have been unable to contest at least 13 bar association elections since January, according to members of lawyers’ associations across the country.

Though many attempted to run as independent candidates, they were reportedly barred from collecting or submitting nomination papers, or had their nominations cancelled by election commissions.

Sources at the Bangladesh Bar Council said elections have so far been held in at least 40 of the country’s 83 bar associations since January 25 this year. Candidates aligned with the BNP won most of those elections. However, in some cases, lawyers aligned with the Awami League won as independent candidates.

Against this backdrop, the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) is set to hold a two-day election from tomorrow, with the nomination papers of 42 pro-AL lawyers having been rejected by the election commission.

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