Dhaka, April 29 -- Lawyers backed by the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami have entered the fray against each other in the Dhaka Bar Association election, ending an alliance that lasted over twenty years.

Voting started at 9am on Wednesday at the association building in Old Dhaka amid adverse weather, with proceedings set to continue until 5pm with a one-hour break in between.

It will follow the same schedule on Thursday, Chief Election Commissioner Md Borhan Uddin said, adding that 10 commissioners and 100 members are overseeing the process.

The Pro-Awami League White Panel is notably absent from the field this year.

Instead, the competition features the BNP and Gono Odhikar Parishad-backed Blue Panel against the Green Panel, which is supporte...