Pro-BNP lawyers declared uncontested

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Pro-BNP lawyers have been declared unopposed winners after allegations of obstruction in the collection of nomination papers in the Shariatpur District Bar Association elections. On the last day of collecting and submitting nomination papers, the Election Commission in charge published the list of winners of 15 posts of the executive committee of the association on Sunday night.

The selected lawyers are local leaders of various levels of BNP and its affiliates. Among the 15 posts, Shariatpur district BNP office secretary Muhammad Kamrul Hasan has been announced as president and Nationalist Lawyers Forum Shariatpur district committee member secretary Mridha Nazrul Islam as general secretary.

Around the elections, there were allegations of obstructing the collection of nomination papers against pro-BNP lawyers and their supporters. According to the complaint, Muslim Uddin Khan, a senior lawyer and former president of the Nationalist Lawyers Forum, was assaulted while going to collect the nomination papers and Murad Hussain, a lawyer, was beaten up in his chamber.

A similar situation arose in February last year. At that time, pro-BNP lawyers and local leaders prevented pro-Awami League and other party lawyers from submitting their nomination papers. Seva’s pro-BNP lawyers won unopposed.

Yesterday Monday afternoon, the Nationalist Lawyers Forum held a press conference in the lobby of the Lawyers Association. It was claimed that no influence was exerted in the election and no one was prevented or harassed in collecting nomination papers. It was also informed that a three-member committee has been formed to investigate the allegation of beating lawyer Murad Hossain.

According to lawyers’ association and local sources, the election schedule was announced on April 2. The polling date was fixed on April 25. Sunday was the day for collecting and submitting nomination papers. The five-member Election Commission started selling nomination papers at the ground floor hall of the Samiti Bhavan from 11 am. At that time, BNP-supported lawyers took a position in front of the door of the hall and BNP and its organizational leaders gathered in front of the building and chanted slogans.

Allegedly, rival candidates were prevented from collecting nomination papers and pro-Awami League lawyers were abused and threatened in chambers.

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Senior lawyer Moslem Uddin Khan went to collect nomination papers ignoring the obstacles of BNP supporters. He is currently the district level leader of NCP. He was prevented from entering the hall. It is alleged that BNP-supporters assaulted him (by neck) and threw him out when he asked for the reason.

On the other hand, Murad Hossain Munshi, a member of the central committee of the Islami Andolan Bangladesh Lawyers Association, was preparing to contest for the post of vice president. It is alleged that Election Commissioner Rubayet Anwar entered his chamber and beat him. Rubayet is the sister-in-law of Anwar Murad Hossain.

A pro-Awami League lawyer who did not wish to be named said, “Most of the voters of the Shariatpur Lawyers’ Association support the Awami League.” The pro-BNP lawyers know that they cannot win if everyone participates in the vote. So we are not allowed to collect nomination papers for two years. On Sunday too, many people were abused and threatened by going to the chamber.

However, member secretary of Nationalist Lawyers Forum Mridha Nazrul Islam said, “A panel was given from Nationalist Lawyers Forum. Nomination papers were not collected by other lawyers out of respect for the candidates of that panel. None of our lawyers prevented anyone.

Jahangir Alam Kashem, president of the Bar Association, said that the activities of a party are prohibited by the existing laws of Bangladesh. Can’t be allowed to participate in any election under that party’s banner. There was consensus among all the lawyers in the Shariatpur Bar Association elections.

Election Commissioner Sultan Nasir said, on the last day of submission of nomination papers, 15 candidates submitted nomination papers against 15 posts. So they were elected unopposed and declared winners.