Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Saifur Rahman Siddiqui was punched, kicked and beaten over the issue of counting votes at Supreme Court Bar Association auditorium in Dhaka on Friday
Commotion and scuffle have taken place over the counting of ballots after the two-day of election of Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2024-25.
Counting of votes has remained suspended, creating confusion and anxiety among lawyers. A tense situation is now prevailing among the lawyers at the Supreme Court. Uncertainty now looms over the announcement of election results.
In such an uncertain situation, ballot boxes have remained sealed off under the custody of police.
The voting for electing the new leadership of the SCBA ended on Thursday in a peaceful atmosphere.
Sources said the incidents of commotion, altercation and scuffle took place over the counting of ballots at the SCBA auditorium early Friday morning.
Witnesses said the scrutiny of ballots ended at about 3:00am on Friday.
Then the Independent panel candidate for the post of SCBA Secretary Nahid Sultana Juthi and BNP-backed Bangladesh Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Panel candidates demanded counting of votes at night. They asked the Election Commission to announce the result after counting of votes.
However, the ruling Awami League-backed Bangabandhu Awami Ainjibi Parishad Panel's secretary post candidate from Shah Manjurul Huque requested for counting the ballots in the day-light at 3:00pm on Friday. Since then tension started rising as both sides got involved in altercation over their respective demands. At one stage, brawl and scuffle took place, leaving several lawyers injured. Assistant Attorney General (AAG) Saifur Rahman Siddiqui was punched, kicked and beaten. The video of it had spread on a social medium. Some lawyers alleged that the attacks were carried out with the help of outsiders.
It is learnt that the Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Abul Khair announced Independent candidate Nahid Sultana Juthi winner at about 7:30am. He said Nahid Sultana Juthi was announced winner as the other candidates were not present during the counting of votes. Later, the law enforcers went to the Supreme Court premises and brought the situation under control removing the outsiders. At present, the ballot boxes are under the custody of police.
Regarding the announcement of the result, Awami League-backed White Panel's secretary candidate Shah Manjurul Huque said votes were not counted. "I came back home from the Supreme Court premises under police escort after 8:00am. Our leaders will take the decision after assessing the overall situation," he said.
The BNP-backed panel's secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kajol said, "We were waiting for the results of the two-day election after the voting was ended. We are still waiting for the results. But, we are not finding the ballot boxes now. Even, the Election Commission has got disappeared."
Out of a total of 7,883 voters, some 5,319 lawyers cast their ballots at the SCBA auditorium in Dhaka during the last two days in a festive and peaceful manner in order to elect 14 executive posts of the prime bar of the country including those of president and secretary.
