Uncertainty over SCBA polls result

The result of Supreme Court Bar Association election is yet to be declared even after four days of the polls.

The resignation of AY Mashiuzzaman, head of the election committee, and alleged pressure and misbehaviour by the ruling Awami League-backed lawyers are causing the delay.

The pro-AL lawyers have been demanding recounting of votes, cast for the secretary post, on charge of irregularities.

It is still uncertain when the result of the election, which was held on March 15-16 to elect 14 executive posts, will be declared since no new election conducting committee has been formed yet.

"The pro-Awami League lawyers kept me waiting till 4:00am on Thursday night. They made derogatory remarks before their leaders about me and pressurised me to recount the votes... although there is no such provision," Mashiuzzaman told The Daily Star yesterday. "I submitted my resignation letter to the SCBA secretary...," he said.

Contacted, Additional Attorney General SM Munir said, no AL lawyer misbehaved with Mashiuzzaman.

Some pro-BNP lawyers did it, he said. "He [Mashiuzzaman] knows very well when the SCBA election result will be declared," he added.

SCBA Secretary Md Ruhul Quddus Kazal, a candidate from the pro-BNP lawyers' panel for the secretary post, said, "I hope he [Mashiuzzaman] will change his decision and declare the election result within few days."

Md Abdun Nur Dulal, a secretary candidate from AL-backed panel, submitted an application on Thursday night to the election subcommittee, saying that many votes have been illegally counted in favour of his rival candidate Kazal.

According to unofficial result, pro-AL lawyers have won six out of 14 posts -- including president. Md Momtaz Uddin Fakir has been elected president.

BNP-backed lawyers have secured the rest eight posts. Incumbent secretary Kazal has been reelected.