Awami League-backed lawyers staged a black flag protest at the Chattogram Court Building on Wednesday, calling for a boycott of the upcoming Chattogram District Bar Association elections.
Labeling the process a "fake" and "one-sided auto-election," the protesting lawyers accused a specific faction of taking forceful control of the 133-year-old association and ignoring the democratic rights of general members.
The protest march and rally, held in the Adalatpara area from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm, drew hundreds of lawyers. Key participants included former Metropolitan Public Prosecutor and association general secretary Abdur Rashid, alongside former general secretaries Ayub Khan, AHM Ziauddin, Bazlur Rashid Mintu, and Mejbah Uddin Chowdhury.
"The current committee has taken control by force, appointed a loyal election commission, and essentially announced the committee themselves," said Abdur Rashid, a presidential candidate. "When we went to collect nomination forms to participate, we were physically obstructed."
Advocate Syed Mohammad Didar Uddin, another participant, noted that forming an "auto-committee" without a competitive vote is unprecedented in the association's long history.
"Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, fair and competitive elections were held," Didar Uddin said. He further claimed that the current Election Commission is destroying the association's democratic tradition, adding that pro-Jamaat lawyers have also announced a boycott of the polls.
According to the protesting faction, opponents attempted to foil the black flag march by organizing a counter-program at the same time and location. However, the high turnout of boycotting lawyers deterred any disruption. The hour-long protest concluded peacefully without any untoward incidents or clashes.
