Addressing a press conference at the National Press Club yesterday on the eve of Bangladesh Bar Council election today Khandker Mahbub held responsible its present leadership for the 'degeneration' in the legal profession.

"They ruled over the Bar Council, the statutory body of the lawyers, for the last 15 years and enrolled Tom, Dick and Harry on political consideration to increase their vote bank so that they can perpetuate the rule," he added.

He said about "half of the lawyers cannot write a petition correctly even in Bangla. They prefer business including tender bungling rather than legal practice, keeping the identity as lawyer in the society."

He urged the lawyers to vote for Jatiyatabadi Ainjibi Oikya Parishad (JAOP) panel backed by the 4-party alliance and led by Sheikh Razzak Ali, former Speaker to cleanse the statutory body of the lawyers.