An uncertainty has been created about vote counting and publication of result of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) election though voters exercised their franchise amid peaceful atmosphere on Wednesday and Thursday last.
Such situation arose as some outsiders launched an attack on lawyers and members of the Election Sub-Committee during vote counting on early Friday.
The attackers were reportedly identified as supporters of Nahid Sultana Juthi, an independent secretary candidate in the election.
It is alleged, the attackers even beat the supporters of ruling Awami League-backed secretary candidate Shah Monjurul Hoque.
Sources said at one stage, chief of the Election Sub-Committee Senior Advocate Freedom Fighter Abul Khair declared Juthi elected in the secretary post before vote counting ended.
However, Abul Khair told the FE that he was forced to declare Nahid Sultana Juthi elected.
He further said, "Ballots are kept in a sealed and secured room at the SCBA building and those will be counted within two days."
The Election Sub-Committee chief said they left the SCBA premises after keeping the ballots in the sealed storeroom. The room is now under police guard.
The lawyers who were witnesses to the happening on condition of anonymity said the Election Sub-Committee completed vote sorting at 3.00 am on Friday and then they took initiative to start vote counting.
At that time, AL-backed secretary candidate Shah Monjurul Hoque demanded that vote counting be stated during daytime on Friday.
On the other hand, BNP-supported secretary candidate Barrister Ruhul Quddus Kazal and Juthi demanded starting the vote counting process instantly.
Brawl between the supporters of both sides turned into scuffles at one point.
Some of the lawyers, including an assistant attorney general, received injuries at that time.
Later under threat and force, the Election Sub-Committee chief at 7.00 am declared Nahid Sultana Juthi elected in the secretary post.
As no other candidate was present during the vote counting, he declared in a white paper that Juthi became victorious.
After the declaration, the Election Sub-Committee members and other candidates left the SCBA premises under police protection.
Law enforcers finally took control of the situation and are now on guard on the SCBA premises.
A police official said they recovered three ballot boxes from a road adjacent to the SCBA building at around 7.15 am on Friday and handed over them to the Election Sub Committee.
These three boxes are among the five boxes kept in the sealed room.
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