By 
24-04-2026 | Roberta Moisuc | Asia Team Researcher, Global Human Rights Defence.
A non-governmental human rights organisation called Justice Makers Bangladesh in France (JMBF) raised concerns over the bar association elections in Bangladesh that are being interfered with in a targeted way. The organisation describes specific incidents in the districts of Mymensingh, Khulna, and Sunamganj, where lawyers believed to be aligned with the Awami League had their nomination papers rejected, blocked, or not accepted during submission. In some cases, candidates were reportedly unable to complete the filing process. The organisation claims these are not isolated incidents and it is a pattern meant to keep certain lawyers out of the elections altogether.
Lawyers are being filtered out based on political identity rather than qualifications. Incident reports from the JMBF point to nomination screening being used in a selective way, where some candidates are removed early without clear or consistent reasoning. This has raised concerns that bar association elections are no longer being conducted on equal terms, and that internal governance is being shaped by political divisions instead of standard rules.
JMBF describes the situation as undermining the proper conduct of bar association elections and calls for the process to be carried out without obstruction. All eligible lawyers should be allowed to take part without interference in nomination or voting procedures. The organisation describes continued restrictions as an issue that directly affects legitimacy and equal opportunity and undermines the rule of law.
