Bias Allegations Surface in Dhaka Bar Election, Green Panel Demands Neutral Commission

Court Correspondent: The Lawyers’ Unity Council Green Panel has alleged bias and political influence in the election process of the upcoming Dhaka Bar Association election. The allegations were raised at a press conference held on Sunday (April 19) in front of the Annex Building of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh.Senior lawyer Advocate Mohammad Shishir Monir stated that efforts are being made to make the election process one-sided. He said that according to the rules, the Election Commission should be formed with equal representation from both panels. However, he alleged that instead of a balanced structure, one side has formed the commission with seven members of its own choice, while the remaining three include representatives of the opposing side without proper consultation.He further claimed that the Green Panel was not included in the commission formation process, making a fair and neutral election unlikely. To ensure transparency and prevent vote manipulation, he also demanded electronic vote counting.Advocate Abdul Razzaq said that historically, elections of the Dhaka Bar Association have been contested between two panels. He noted that in the past, there were White and Blue panels representing different political alignments. This time, with no participation from the Awami League, the election is effectively between the BNP-supported Blue Panel and the Lawyers’ Unity Council-backed Green Panel.He alleged that political influence in forming the Election Commission has raised serious concerns over a fair election. He warned that while they would continue efforts for a proper election, they may be compelled to launch protests if their demands are not met.Green Panel presidential candidate Advocate SM Kamal Uddin said that lawyers are living in uncertainty over whether they will be able to exercise their voting rights. He alleged that the current commission is acting in a biased manner, making it impossible to ensure a level playing field.He also demanded that, in accordance with the rules of the Dhaka Bar Association, the Election Commission should be formed with equal representation from both panels to ensure a fair and credible election. Other leaders present at the press conference echoed similar concerns and reiterated their demand for a neutral election commission to ensure a transparent and acceptable electoral process.