Rangpur-4 MP Akhter Hossen, speaking in Parliament today, criticised the decision to postpone the Bangladesh Bar Council election, questioning whether the cited reason, fuel crisis, was genuine or an attempt to politicise a democratic institution.

“When we raise the issue of a fuel crisis in Parliament, the government insists there is none. Yet a government institution cites fuel crisis to suspend an election. What is the real issue here?” the NCP leader said, calling for statements from the energy and law ministers.

The bar council, a statutory body regulating lawyers, postponed its May 19 election citing the ongoing energy crisis. The decision was taken unanimously at a meeting on Wednesday, according to an official statement.

Raising the issue on a point of order, Akhter said elections are legally required every three years and that ad hoc arrangements are allowed only in extraordinary circumstances such as pandemics or disasters. He questioned the formation of an ad hoc committee after the interim government took office.

In response, Law Minister Md Asaduzzaman acknowledged that the matter was important, noting that while the MP referred to certain legal grounds, he omitted other factors relevant to the decision.

The minister said the government initiated the election process, but the bar council, as an autonomous body, made the final decision.

He added that several bar associations, including the Dhaka Bar, had sought postponement due to ongoing elections, and the bar council acted independently.

“We are not interfering. The bar council will decide freely and independently,” he said.