Barrister Nazmul Huda was named as its president and Barrister Aminul Haque as general secretary at the convention held on the Supreme Court premises in the city.

Speaking as the chief guest, Barrister Mainul Hosein called on the lawyers to be united for the sake of democracy and nationalism. Otherwise, the judiciary system will weaken, he added.

He also urged all the members of the forum to work together.

Nazmul Huda said, "We formed the forum in 1991 but failed to strengthen our position due to lack of dynamic leadership."

"We have to strengthen our position before the next election to the Supreme Court Bar Association, which will be held in March," he added.

The minister also cut a 70-pound cake at the convention to mark the 70th birth anniversary of late president Ziaur Rahman.

Leaders of different district units of the forum attended the convention.

At the yesterday's convention, the forum also named State Minister for Law Barrister Shahjahan Omar as senior vice-president, Zainul Abedin as joint general secretary, Advocate Toimur Alam Khondoker as organising secretary, Assistant Attorney General Md Atiqul Karim as literary secretary and Md Shahjada as office secretary.

TH Khan was named the chief advisor of the committee while Barrister Moudud Ahmed, Barrister Jamiruddin Sircar, Sheikh Razzak Ali, Barrister Mainul Hosein, Ziaur Rahman Khan, Moazzem Hossain Alal MP, Ruhul Kuddus Talukder, Mahbub Uddin Ahmed were made advisory committee members.

In October last year, Huda, who was the vice-president of the forum, unilaterally dissolved the central committee before forming a 501-member convening committee headed by him.

Soon after the announcement of the new body, JAF President TH Khan, and its Secretary General and Telecommunications Minister Aminul Haq gathered in an emergency meeting to oust Huda and BNP Law Secretary Advocate Joinul Abedin from the JAF for their anti-organisational activities.