Bangladesh SCBA cancels 42 nominations over Awami League links
Synopsis
Bangladesh's Supreme Court Bar Association has disqualified 42 of 90 candidates from its May elections over alleged Awami League ties — a move condemned as 'illegal' by affected lawyers and branded a 'blatant attack' on democratic norms by an international rights group. With BNP-aligned officials driving the scrutiny, the episode spotlights deepening political fault lines inside Bangladesh's legal establishment.
Key Takeaways
The SCBA cancelled nominations of 42 lawyers out of 90 candidates for elections scheduled on 13–14 May 2025 .
Disqualified candidates include 2 presidential , 7 secretary , 2 treasurer , 10 assistant secretary , and 21 executive member hopefuls.
SCBA Senior Vice-President Md Humayun Kabir Manju confirmed the ban, citing candidates' alleged direct and indirect Awami League involvement.
Disqualified presidential candidate Md Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury called the move
Bangladesh's Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) has rejected the nomination papers of 42 lawyers out of 90 candidates for its upcoming elections on 13–14 May, citing alleged links to the Awami League, local media reported on Thursday, 30 April 2025. The disqualifications have drawn sharp criticism from affected lawyers and an international human rights body, raising questions about political neutrality within the country's premier legal institution.
How the Decision Was Reached
The move followed an extraordinary general meeting held in Dhaka on 26 April, at which SCBA members reportedly voted to bar pro-Awami League lawyers from contesting the annual elections. The ban was justified on grounds of a legal prohibition on the party's activities currently in force in Bangladesh.
SCBA Senior Vice-President Md Humayun Kabir Manju, a lawyer affiliated with the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), confirmed the disqualifications, stating that scrutiny had revealed candidates'
Point of View
Rather than proven misconduct, sets a precedent that could hollow out professional bodies across Bangladesh. That the scrutiny was led by a BNP-aligned official adds a layer of partisanship that the association has not adequately addressed. International condemnation from Justice Makers Bangladesh in France reflects a broader anxiety: when bar associations — traditionally the last line of institutional independence — become instruments of political exclusion, the rule of law itself is at risk.
NationPress
1 May 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the SCBA cancel 42 nomination papers?
The Bangladesh Supreme Court Bar Association cancelled the nominations of 42 lawyers on grounds of alleged direct or indirect links to the Awami League, whose activities are currently subject to a legal prohibition in Bangladesh. The decision was taken following an extraordinary general meeting held on 26 April 2025.
Who confirmed the SCBA disqualifications?
SCBA Senior Vice-President Md Humayun Kabir Manju, a BNP-affiliated lawyer, confirmed the cancellations, stating that scrutiny had revealed the candidates' involvement with Awami League activities, as reported by Bangladesh's Daily Star newspaper.
How many candidates remain in the SCBA election after the disqualifications?
Following the cancellation of 42 nominations, 48 candidates remain eligible to contest the SCBA elections scheduled for 13 and 14 May 2025.
What has the international response been to the SCBA decision?
Justice Makers Bangladesh in France, an international human rights organisation, condemned the move as a 'blatant and dangerous attack' on democracy, the rule of law, and the independence of the legal profession. Its Founder President Shahanur Islam warned that the SCBA was being transformed into 'a platform for partisan control.'
What did the disqualified lawyers say about the decision?
Several disqualified lawyers argued they had submitted nominations in their individual capacities, not on behalf of any political party. Veteran lawyer and disqualified presidential candidate Md Munsurul Hoque Chowdhury described the move as 'illegal and condemnable,' calling it a 'disgraceful chapter' in the SCBA's 77-year history.
