Pro-AL lawyers now officially win Bar Council elections

Pro-Awami League lawyers' panel is back on the driving seat of the Bangladesh Bar Council after three years, according to the council's official election results announced yesterday.

Attorney General Mahbubey Alam, chairman of the Bar Council, which is the licensing and regulatory body of lawyers, announced the results in the council's auditorium at 8:00am yesterday, a week  after the election was held throughout the country on August 26. Meanwhile, pro-BNP lawyers' panel rejected the results and demanded a re-election saying that the election was null and void as the attorney general did not recount the ballot papers as per the Bar Council rules.

According to official results, pro-AL lawyers' panel Sammilito Ainjibi Samannoy Parishad (SASP) bagged 11 out of total 14 executive member posts, while pro-BNP lawyers' panel Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel (JAOP) won the three remaining posts.

The winning pro-AL lawyers are: M Amir-Ul Islam, Abdul Baset Majumder, Abdul Matin Khasru, SM Rezaul Karim, ZI Khan Panna, Nazubullah Hiru, HR Zahid Anwar, Ibrahim Hossain Chowdhury Babul, Parvez Alom Khan, Md Yahia and Md Rezaul Karim Mantu.

From the pro-BNP lawyers' panel, BNP leader and current vice chairman of Bar Council Khandker Mahbub Hossain, and AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Qaimul Hoque won. 

According to unofficial results on August 27, SASP had won 10 seats, while JAOP the remaining.

AJ Mohammad Ali, who had won as per unofficial results but lost according to the official results, at a press conference at Supreme Court Bar Association yesterday afternoon said as the ballot papers have already been unsealed, there is no scope for recounting them.

So, there is no other option but to hold a re-election, he said.   

Replying to a query, Mohammad Ali said they are thinking about going for legal action for holding a re-election.

SCBA Secretary AM Mahbub Uddin also spoke at the press conference.

Meanwhile, Attorney General Mahbubey Alam told reporters at his office that the demand of JAOP candidates is ridiculous as the election results were declared in a fair and transparent manner after compiling tabulations sent by the presiding officers from across the country.

Seven to 10 days are needed for recounting the ballots, he said, adding that the ballot papers would be recounted if the Supreme Court orders it.

The results of at least 20 elections of the Bar Council so far have been declared on the basis of tabulations received from presiding officers, and it has become a convention, the attorney general added.