Dhaka, Apr 16 (V7N) — Law Minister Md. Asaduzzaman has stated that the government had no role in postponing the Bangladesh Bar Council elections, emphasizing that the decision was taken following requests from relevant bar associations.

Responding to a question from Akhtar Hossain in the National Parliament on Thursday, the minister said that elections of various bar associations across the country are currently ongoing, and the Bar Council election schedule was deferred based on appeals from those bodies.

He noted that the law allows elections to be postponed under reasonable circumstances. However, he criticized the opposition lawmaker for not fully presenting that legal provision in his remarks. In a sharp response, the minister quoted poetically, suggesting that some arguments were selectively presented while others were ignored.

The Law Minister further explained that several associations, including the Dhaka Bar Association, had requested a postponement to better coordinate with their own election processes. He pointed out that the Dhaka Bar alone has over 22,000 members, with its election scheduled for April 29.

Earlier, MP Akhtar Hossain questioned the rationale behind citing an “energy crisis” as the reason for postponing the Bar Council elections, especially when the government had claimed in parliament that no such crisis existed. He raised concerns over whether the move was politically motivated rather than necessitated by actual conditions.

He also highlighted that, under the law, Bar Council elections are held every three years, with provisions for postponement only in exceptional circumstances such as pandemics or natural disasters.

The postponement has sparked debate over transparency and consistency in official statements, as well as concerns about the independence of professional institutions.

END/SMA/AJ