Declaring Attorney General as SCBA president: Pro-BNP lawyers protest

Pro-BNP faction of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) today protested against declaring Attorney General AM Amin Uddin as the new president of the organisation without an election.

The action of the SCBA's Vice President Muhammad Shafique Ullah declaring senior lawyer AM Amin Uddin as the new president of the bar association on May 4 without any election is contradictory to its constitution, said SCBA Secretary Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, also leader of its pro-BNP faction.

He was speaking at a press conference organised by the pro-BNP faction under the banner of SCBA at its auditorium.

The post of SCBA president felt vacant after its newly elected President Abdul Matin Khasru died from Covid-19 infection on April 14.

The SCBA secretary told the press conference that the vacant post of SCBA president must be filled via election as per article 16 of its constitution.

Article-16 of the SCBA Constitution read that "In the case of a casual vacancy occurring on account of the removal, resignation or death of any office bearer or other member, the vacancy shall be filled within a month by election in a Special General Meeting of the Association to be held for the purpose and the manner of this election shall be decided by the meeting itself".

Ruhul Quddus Kazal said that the special general meeting of the SCBA, which was scheduled to be held on May 4 to fix the procedures to fill the vacant post of SCBA president, has been postponed without any discussion and decision.

Meanwhile, AM Amin Uddin told this correspondent yesterday (Tuesday) that there is no legal bar for him to discharge the responsibility of the SCBA president as the executive committee (led by Muhammad Shafique Ullah) has issued a resolution declaring him elected.      

"I will start discharging responsibility as the SCBA president later on because the regular court functions are now suspended due to the Covid-19 pandemic. I will take necessary decisions after talking to relevant persons concerned of the SCBA," he added.