Polls open on first day of Supreme Court Bar Association election

With Awami League-backed lawyers out of the contest, the races are likely to come down to those backed by the BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and the NCP

Voting is under way on the first of two days in the Supreme Court Bar Association election for the 2026-2027 term.

Casting began at 10am on Wednesday at the Supreme Court Bar Auditorium and will continue until 5pm, with a one-hour break from 1pm to 2pm.

An election subcommittee led by retired justice Md Miftah Uddin Chowdhury has been formed to conduct the election.

A total of 40 candidates are in the race for the 14 posts of the association's executive committee this time. A total of 11,097 voters can cast their ballots in the polls.

The BNP-backed Blue Panel is fielding MP AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon is running for the post of president and Mohammad Ali for the post of secretary.

Abdul Baten is vying for the post of president and AKM Rezaul Karim Khandaker is contesting for the post of secretary from the Jamaat-e-Islami-backed Green Panel.

The National Citizen Party (NCP)-backed Red-Green Panel has not fielded any candidate for the post of president this time. However, Ajmal Hossain Bachchu is contesting for the post of secretary.

No Awami League-backed panel is taking part in the election. The Election Commission has rejected the nomination papers of more than 40 pro-Awami League lawyers, citing the party's ban on political activities.

Outside these main panels, Yunus Ali Akhand is running independently for the president’s post.

Farhad Uddin Bhuiyan, Md Abu Yahia Dulal, Md Omar Faruk and Mohammad Ashraf Uz-Zaman Khan are in the fray for the secretary post as independents.

The last Supreme Court Bar Association election was held in March, 2024.

In that election, BNP-backed lawyers won four of the 14 posts, including that of president, while Awami League-backed lawyers won the remaining 10 posts, including that of secretary.