Brussels is abuzz with condemnation as Bangladesh’s Supreme Court Bar Association disqualifies 42 lawyers’ candidacies for its May elections, citing Awami League affiliations. This purge of nearly half the nominees has drawn sharp rebukes from around the world, spotlighting deepening cracks in the nation’s legal election processes.
The controversy extends beyond the capital. Multiple district bar elections have been marred by similar accusations: Awami League sympathizers sidelined purely for their political leanings, fueling fears of a rigged system that undermines democratic norms within the legal fraternity.
CCBE President Roman Javersak’s April 30 letter to PM Sheikh Hasina pulls no punches. Drawing from Paris-based JMBF reports, it details a campaign of obstruction from February to April—candidates barred from submitting forms, assaulted, or dismissed as ‘fascist allies.’ Even police coercion to drop out or face smears as old-regime lackeys has surfaced.
Javersak references core UN principles guaranteeing lawyers’ freedom and security, alongside a fresh European convention on professional protections, pressing Bangladesh for swift adoption. The demands are clear: Ensure inclusive, unbiased polls; investigate all irregularities, from harassment to violence; and foster an environment where attorneys practice freely.
With over a million European lawyers standing behind this call, Bangladesh faces a pivotal moment. Will authorities heed the international chorus, restoring faith in bar elections and the broader justice system, or risk further isolation on the global stage?
