Barrister Shafique Ahmed and Nurul Islam Sujan were elected president and secretary respectively of the executive committee of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) for 2008-09, reports agency.

Shafique secured 589 votes to beat Khandaker Mahbub Hossain who got 431 in the election held on April 28-29. Shafique was earlier elected president of the SCBA for the 1999-2000 term.

Nurul Islam Sujan was declared elected after a recount of votes today. Sujan bagged 518 votes against his nearest rival Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, who secured 512 votes.

Nizamul Huq Nasim, SCBA''s election subcommittee convenor, formally announced the election results at an Annual General Meeting of the SCBA at its auditorium this (Wednesday) afternoon.

The outgoing executive committee handed over charge to the newly elected body at the AGM. Other elected office bearers are: Vice-presidents SM Shafiqul Islam Babul and Amatun Noor Begum Panna, Assistant Secretaries Fahima Nasreen and KM Zahid Sarwar Kajol and Treasurer Nahid Sultana Juthi. Executive-committee members are: AKM Nurul Alam, M Jamil Akhtar Elahi, M Shafkat Hossain, M Ali Azam, Najibur Rahman, Nurun Nahar and Sheikh Ali Ahmed Khokon.

Barrister Shafique Ahmed, taking over the charge, said he would take steps to constitute benches in consultation with the Chief Justice as justice-seekers are being "deprived" of getting justice timely.

He said it is imperative to establish the rule of law. "If we could not ensure quick justice-delivery system, people''s confidence in the highest judiciary may erode." Barrister Shafique requested the members of the bar to play their due role in this respect.

Meanwhile, Barrister Abdullah Al Mamun, who was unofficially declared elected secretary last night, held a press conference demanding reelection to the SCBA. If the election results are not scrapped, he will go to law. "I was made defeated by manipulating the votes," he said.