Supreme Court Bar Association Elections Underway on First Day
Voting commenced Wednesday for the Supreme Court Bar Association’s two-day election, which will determine the leadership for the 2026-2027 term. Balloting is scheduled to continue Thursday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. each day, with a one-hour break.
The election is proceeding peacefully, according to senior lawyer Md. Miftah Uddin Chowdhury, convener of the election subcommittee. Supporters of the various candidate panels were visible from early morning, congregating in the association premises and forming long queues. Dressed in distinct blue, green, and red-green caps, they engaged voters, distributing campaign materials detailing their respective panels and candidates’ ballot numbers.
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The election for the 14 positions on the executive committee, serving one-year terms, was announced on April 2. The positions include president, two vice presidents, secretary, treasurer, two assistant secretaries, and seven members. This year, 40 candidates are vying for these positions.
While ostensibly non-partisan, the association’s elections are characterized by the emergence of panels aligned with major political parties. Historically, contests have primarily been between candidates from panels supported by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), known as the “blue panel,” and the Awami League, referred to as the “white panel.”
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However, a significant shift has occurred this year. Following a special general meeting on April 26, decisions were reportedly made to prohibit the participation of Awami League-backed lawyers in the election, citing restrictions on political activities. This marks the first time in the association’s history that lawyers aligned with the Awami League’s “white panel” are unable to contest.
The current election features candidates from three primary panels: the “blue panel” nominated by the BNP-backed National Lawyers’ Forum; the “green panel” (Lawyers Unity Panel) led by the Jamaat-e-Islami; and the “red-green panel” (National Lawyers’ Alliance) supported by the National Citizen Party (NCP). The blue and green panels have fielded candidates for all 14 positions, while the red-green panel is contesting six posts. Several independent candidates are also participating.
The total number of voters for this election is 11,097. The association’s administrative officer, Md. Rabiul Hasan, confirmed that 40 candidates are competing for the 14 available seats.
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