Two-way battle in SC Bar polls

Dr M Zahir (left) and Barrister Rokanuddin Mahmud (2nd from left), the government- and opposition-backed presidential candidates for the ongoing Supreme Court (SC) Bar polls, greet voters on the SC premises yesterday. PHOTO: STAR

The two-day election of the executive committee of Supreme Court Bar Association began yesterday, with the two panels led by Rokan Uddin Mahmud and Dr M Zahir appearing as the principal contestants.

In another development yesterday, Bikalpa Dhara Supreme Court Lawyers Committee (BDSLC) expelled its advisor Dr Zakir Hossain, who withdrew from the poll Saturday as the presidential candidate from Bikalpa Dhara-Jukto Front panel and went back to the fold of the BNP.

On the first day, 637 of 1,439 voters exercised their franchise amid a festive mood on premises of the country's highest court. The voting went on from 10am to 5pm with an hour-long break from 1pm.

The rest of the association members will cast their votes today and the counting of the ballots will start after 5pm.

Meanwhile, an urgent meeting of the BDSLC yesterday unanimously decided to expel Dr Zakir accusing him of anti-organisa-tional activities, a press release said, without giving any details how those had gone against the committee's rules and regulations. BDSLC President Syed Matiul Alam Mantu chaired meeting held at the Supreme Court Bar.

Lawyers, political parties and citizens of the country are closely watching the election, which carries much import in the context of the present political heat. The bar association has always played a significant role in political crises in the past.

In recent times, the association became a talk of the town when its president, Rokan, brought allegations of corruption against an additional judge of the High Court.

Rokan is contesting the ongoing poll as a presidential candidate from Ainjibi Samannay Parishad, which is backed by Awami League (AL) and some left-leaning political parties. Bashir Ahmed is running with Rokan as a candidate for the post of general secretary.

Rokan- Bashir's panel is competed by Jatiyatabadi Oikyo Panel, which has the ruling four-party alliance as its patron, with Dr Zahir running as its presidential and Mamun Rahman as general-secretary candidates.

Both Rokan and Zahir have pledged that, if elected, they will work to ensure independence of the judiciary and increase facilities for the lawyers.

Though there also are a few independent candidates, the main fight is taking place between the panels blessed by the ruling alliance and the major opposition party respectively.