The upcoming election of the Dhaka Bar Association has sparked controversy amid allegations that independent candidates are being deliberately obstructed from participating in the electoral process. In the absence of Awami League-backed candidates, some lawyers claim that the BNP-Jamaat-supported panel is attempting to dominate the election uncontested.
According to several practicing lawyers, unusual restrictions have been imposed on the nomination process. One of the most controversial requirements includes prior approval from the Bar president before collecting nomination forms, a condition described by many as unprecedented and undemocratic.
The election, scheduled for February 26 and 27, has created a tense atmosphere among members of the legal community. Independent candidates allege that they are facing systematic hurdles and administrative delays at multiple stages of the nomination process.
Advocate Mosammat Mousumi Begum Dakuwa, an independent candidate, said she experienced severe difficulties while attempting to collect her nomination form. Despite depositing the required Tk 5,000 at the bank, she was reportedly made to wait for several hours without receiving the form.
“I am a regular member of the Dhaka Bar, and it is my constitutional and professional right to contest the election,” she said. “However, I was kept waiting from morning until late afternoon without any explanation. They are now saying that approval from the president is required. Why is this discrimination taking place?”
In protest, she staged a sit-in in front of the election commissioner’s office, accusing a group of politically aligned lawyers of forming a syndicate to restrict independent participation.
Many lawyers believe that, with no Awami League-backed candidates in the field, the BNP-supported panel is seeking an easy path to victory. They argue that the alleged obstruction of independent candidates is aimed at creating a one-sided electoral environment.
Although the authorities eventually issued the nomination form following prolonged protests, the incident has drawn widespread criticism within the legal community.
Several lawyers, speaking anonymously, said such practices undermine the principles of fairness and democratic values within professional institutions. One senior lawyer commented, “If lawyers cannot ensure fair elections within their own association, it sends a negative message to society as a whole.”
As the election approaches, concerns remain high among Dhaka Bar members, with growing calls for a transparent, inclusive, and politically neutral electoral process that ensures equal opportunity for all candidates.
