Tensions are rising in Bangladesh’s legal circles after the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) disqualified more than 20 Awami League-affiliated lawyers from contesting the 2026 annual elections. The Paris-based Justice Makers Bangladesh (JMBF) has issued a scathing critique, describing the Tuesday decision as a direct threat to the rule of law and professional autonomy.
Emerging from an emergency general meeting in Dhaka, the SCBA resolution references prior court injunctions against Awami League activities to justify the ban. Reports indicate that supporters from opposition groups, including around 100 members from BNP, Jamaat-e-Islami, and NCP, lobbied aggressively for this step, marking a first in SCBA’s history.
‘This is not just exclusion; it’s a tool for political vendetta that undermines the bar’s integrity,’ declared JMBF founder president Shahnoor Islam. He pointed out how mandating political non-affiliation declarations forces lawyers into compelled declarations, infringing on freedoms of expression and association—core tenets of any democratic society.
JMBF’s statement underscores the broader implications: professional bodies risk becoming extensions of party politics, stifling diverse opinions and fostering division. The group sees this as part of a worrying authoritarian shift that weakens Bangladesh’s legal framework.
Calling for swift action, JMBF insists on revoking the ban without conditions, restoring all candidates, and ensuring elections that are transparent and open to all qualified members. They’ve appealed to legal professionals worldwide to spotlight these violations, arguing that the legal profession must remain a neutral ground, not a battleground for political scores.
