Dhaka, April 29 -- Around 40 nominations have been cancelled before election to the Supreme Court Bar Association, triggering a dispute among the election subcommittee, the current bar leadership and the affected candidates.

The current Bar leadership defended the move, alleging that the disqualified candidates were affiliated with the Awami League and its associate organisations.

The mass cancellations have triggered a wave of counter-accusations involving the election sub-committee, the Bar's current ad-hoc committee, and the affected candidates.

Those disqualified claimed their candidacies were scrapped illegally "on orders from above" without any prior notice or opportunity to show cause.

Conversely, the election sub-committee mai...