SCBA polls: Pro-BNP panel demands resignation of Law Minister, AG

Staff Reporter :
Pro-BNP lawyers of the Supreme Court on Sunday demanded the resignation of the Law Minister and the Attorney General (AG) over police attacks on lawyers and journalists during the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election.
They made the demand during a press conference in the Supreme Court Bar Association Building alleging that the Law Minister and the Attorney General instructed the police attack.
BNP-supported Secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal gave a written speech at the conference.
He said, “There was a great interest among the lawyers as well as the common people of the country around the elections. But unfortunately, like all other elections in the country, the political character of the ruling Awami League has been exposed in the Supreme Court Bar Association elections.
Although no election was legally held, the candidates of the ruling party were unilaterally declared illegally elected by organising the election drama. Recently, a similar kind of farce was conducted in the Dhaka Lawyers Association elections”.
He further said, “Some overzealous lawyers of the ruling Awami League and the hellish violence of the police around the election of the Supreme Court Bar Association have humiliated us as lawyers. It is a disgrace not only to the legal community but to the entire nation”.
He then demanded a fresh election schedule by forming an election sub-committee immediately as per the constitution of the SCBA.
Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, President candidate of BNP-backed blue panel said, outsiders, Awami League, Jubo League, and Chhatra League workers voted for the white panel candidates supported by the ruling party in the SCBA election, which was marred by unprecedented chaos, with scuffles, police assaults, and stampedes.
“Even 500 lawyers did not vote in the elections held on 15-16 March. Clerks, Jubo League, Chhatra League activists voted. No lawyer could enter the booth to vote because of the police. Any one who went to vote was attacked by the police,” Barrister Khokon also said during the press conference.
“Both of us President and Secretary candidates were attacked by the police. Members of the current executive council of the association have also come under attack,” he added.
Polling for the SCBA ended on Thursday amid unprecedented happenings, including scuffles, police assaults, and stampedes. The chaos was mainly caused by clashes between pro-Awami League and pro-BNP lawyers.