Kushtia Bar polls: Pro-AL lawyers dominate with 9 wins, including president post; BNP-backed lawyers secure 5
AL-backed Harunur Rashidis re-elected as president of Kushtia District Bar Association for 2025-2026

Awami League-backed candidate Harunur Rashid, who also serves as the legal affairs secretary of Kushtia District Awami League, was re-elected as president of Kushtia District Bar Association for 2025-2026.
Meanwhile, BNP rebel candidate SM Shatil Mahmud, senior joint convener of Kumarkhali upazila BNP, was elected as general secretary in the election held yesterday (26 February)
According to lawyers, out of the 17 posts, nine were won by Awami League-backed candidates, three by BNP-backed candidates, two by BNP rebels, two by Jamaat-backed candidates, and one by a Jatiya Party-backed candidate.
Election Commission Chairman KM Abdur Rouf announced the results after vote counting concluded around 9:30pm.
Two days before the bar elections, tension arose after 40 to 50 youths attacked five election camps on the court premises on Monday.
A trainee lawyer recording the incident was assaulted, creating unrest and sparking widespread criticism.
Some believe this incident contributed to the defeat of pro-BNP candidates.
Voting took place from 9am to 3:30pm, with 430 out of 460 eligible voters casting their ballots.
Awami League-backed candidate Harunur Rashid got 147 votes, defeating his closest rival, Sohel Khalid Md Sayeed, who secured 108.
BNP rebel candidate SM Shatil Mahmud won the position of general secretary with 199 votes, defeating Advocate Kh M Ariful Islam (Ripon), who received 167 votes.
Faruk Azam Mridha, backed by the Jatiya Party, was elected as senior vice president, while Mahmudul Haque Chanchal, a BNP-backed candidate, secured the position of vice president. Awami League-backed Nazmun Nahar was elected joint general secretary, while BNP-backed Abul Hashim won the post of treasurer.
Awami League-backed candidate Sultana Begum Momo was elected library secretary, and Mokhlesur Rahman, also AL-backed, became the cultural secretary. Jamaat-backed Waliul Bari secured the office secretary position.
Among the senior members, Awami League-backed Maruf Billah and Ashutosh Kumar Pal were elected, while BNP-backed Ayesha Siddika and Hafizur Rahman won as junior members.
Other elected members include Muhaiminur Rahman Pal, Saifur Rahman Sumon, and Saiful Islam, all backed by the Awami League, while Jamaat-backed Rabiul Islam was also elected.