A jailed Awami League leader has won the presidency of the Kurigram District Judge Court Law Clerks’ and Legal Assistants’ Association by a margin of 69 votes, just two days after his arrest.
Abdul Baten, a law clerk, secured 209 votes in the triennial election held on Thursday, 1 October. His closest rival, Faruk Ahmed, received 140 votes. The result was announced by the association’s election commission later that night.
The election was held against the backdrop of Baten’s arrest shortly before polling day. According to Kurigram Sadar police, he was arrested from the court premises on Tuesday evening, 29 September. He was subsequently sent to jail through a court in connection with a case filed under the Anti-Terrorism Act.
Despite being in custody during the election, Baten won the presidency with a clear majority. His supporters also performed strongly across the panel, with eight candidates from his 14-member panel, including the president and general secretary, securing victory.
The general secretary’s post was also won by a candidate backed by Baten. Atiar Rahman received 171 votes, defeating Saifur Rahman, who polled 101 votes. Atiar therefore won by a margin of 70 votes.
The association had 362 registered voters, of whom 358 cast their ballots. The turnout was therefore exceptionally high, with almost all eligible members taking part in the election.
Baten works as a law clerk for Abraham Lincoln, a former public prosecutor at the Kurigram Judge Court. He is a resident of Belgachha Union in Kurigram Sadar Upazila and serves as the Awami League president of the union.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest became a notable feature of the election. As he was taken into custody only two days before polling, he was unable to participate in the final stage of the election campaign in the usual manner.
Chief Election Commissioner Advocate Nazrul Islam, who is also a senior vice-president of the Kurigram Bar Association, confirmed the election results. He said he was saddened by the arrest of a candidate shortly before the vote and added that he did not know the reasons for Baten’s arrest.
Nazrul Islam also said he believed the arrest generated sympathy among some voters, which may have contributed to Baten’s strong performance. He pointed to the wider result as evidence of the support enjoyed by Baten’s panel, eight of whose candidates were elected.
The election result has drawn attention because of the unusual circumstances surrounding the presidential contest. Baten was in jail when members of the association went to the polls, yet he secured 209 votes—69 more than his nearest challenger. His panel’s success in several other positions also gave the election a broader significance for the association’s incoming leadership.
The triennial election determines the office-bearers responsible for representing the interests of law clerks and legal assistants working at the district judge court. With eight members of Baten’s panel elected, the new committee will begin its term with a majority of its successful candidates coming from the same group.
