Dhaka: The election of the Bangladesh Bar Council was held peacefully across the country on Wednesday.

Bar Council chairman and Attorney General Mahbub-e-Alam told reporters that the election was held peacefully. The counting is going on and the result will be announced by Thursday, he hoped.

Earlier, the election started at about 10:00am and continued till 5:00pm in 77 centres across the country.

A total of 43,302 voters were expected to cast their votes while at least 61 candidates–32 for general posts and 29 for group posts–are contesting in the polls.

Of them, 14 elected members will take the office for the next three years.

Barrister M Amir-Ul Islam, Abdul Baset Majumdar, Barrister Rokon Uddin Mahmud, Abdul Matin Khasru, Parimal Chandra Griho, ZI Khan Panna and Rezaul Karim are the ruling party-backed candidates while Bar Council vice-chairman Khandker Mahbub Hossain, its executive committee chairman AJ Mohammad Ali, enrolment committee chairman Barrister AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon, finance committee Chairman Sanaullah Miah are the BNP-backed candidates.

On 9 July, The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court deferred the election of the Bangladesh Bar Council until 26 August.

Earlier on 21 May, the High Court stayed for three months the election, which was scheduled for 27 May, following objections over voter the list and polling procedure.