Voting begins in Dhaka Bar Association election amid heavy rains
Awami League-backed lawyers are not participating in this year's election, citing an unfavourable electoral environment
Voting for the Dhaka Bar Association's 2026–2027 executive committee election commenced today (29 April) at the Dhaka lower court premises, marked by a festive atmosphere despite heavy morning rains initially dampening voter turnout.
The two-day polling process began at 9am and is scheduled to conclude tomorrow, with voting taking place daily until 5pm, punctuated by a one-hour midday break.
Chief Election Commissioner Senior Advocate Md Borhan Uddin confirmed that a total of 21,731 lawyer-voters are eligible to cast their ballots to elect representatives for 23 executive posts, including the key positions of president and general secretary.
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This year's election features a total of 54 candidates, including 23 from each of the two main panels and eight independent contenders.
Borhan Uddin said, "For the first time, Awami League-backed lawyers have not been able to field a panel. The election is being held without their participation. BNP and Jamaat, which contested jointly for more than two decades, are now competing separately through different panels."
In the changed political landscape following the fall of the Awami League government on 5 August 2024, BNP- and Gono Odhikar Parishad-backed lawyers are contesting under the 'Blue Panel' (Bangladesh Jatiotabadi Ainjibi Oikkya Panel).
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami and National Citizen Party (NCP)-backed lawyers are contesting under the 'Green Panel' (Ainjibi Oikkya Parishad). A total of 54 candidates—23 from each panel and eight independents—are in the race.
Awami League-backed lawyers are not participating in this year's election, citing an unfavourable electoral environment.
From the BNP-backed Blue Panel, Md Anwar Zahid Bhuiyan is contesting the presidency, and Mohammad Abul Kalam Khan the general secretary.
From the Jamaat-backed Green Panel, SM Kamal Uddin is contesting for president and Md Abu Bakar Siddique for general secretary.
In addition, eight independent candidates, including Mohammad Yunus Ali Biswas for president and Bolai Chandra Dev and Mohammad Shahidullah for general secretary, are also contesting.
The last election of the association was held on 28–29 February 2024, when Awami League-backed candidates won 21 posts, including president and general secretary.
However, after the political shift in August that year, elected members stopped attending court, disrupting the association's activities.
In response, BNP- and Jamaat-leaning lawyers formed an ad hoc committee on 13 August 2024, which has since been overseeing the association and constituted the election commission. The election schedule was announced on 29 March by the chief election commissioner.
