Appellate Division stays High Court ruling on Cumilla-1, 2 constituency boundaries
Previously, during the 12th parliamentary election in 2024, Cumilla-1 consisted of Daudkandi and Titas upazilas, while Cumilla-2 comprised Homna and Meghna upazilas
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed a High Court verdict that ordered the restoration of the previous electoral boundaries of the Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2 parliamentary constituencies.
The chamber court of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, passed the stay order today (11 January) after hearing separate petitions filed by the Election Commission (EC) and an independent candidate, according to court sources.
Lawyers said that, as a result of the stay, the upcoming national election will be held under the newly determined constituency boundaries.
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Earlier, on 8 January, the High Court delivered its verdict following the final hearing of a writ petition. In its ruling, the court declared parts of an EC gazette on constituency delimitation to be without lawful authority.
The gazette had redefined Cumilla-1 to include Daudkandi and Meghna upazilas instead of Daudkandi and Titas, and Cumilla-2 to include Homna and Titas upazilas instead of Homna and Meghna.
The High Court had directed the EC to restore the previous configuration – Cumilla-1 comprising Daudkandi and Titas upazilas, and Cumilla-2 comprising Homna and Meghna upazilas – and to publish a revised gazette within 24 hours.
Seeking a stay of that verdict, the EC and Cumilla-2 independent candidate AM Matin filed separate applications with the Appellate Division.
During today's hearing, Additional Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf, acting as attorney general, along with senior lawyers Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Kamal Hossain Miah, represented the EC.
Senior lawyer Ehsan A Siddique appeared for the writ petitioners, while senior lawyers AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Abdullah Al Mamun represented the independent candidate.
Previously, during the 12th parliamentary election in 2024, Cumilla-1 consisted of Daudkandi and Titas upazilas, while Cumilla-2 comprised Homna and Meghna upazilas.
Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the EC issued a gazette on 4 September last year redefining the boundaries, placing Daudkandi and Meghna under Cumilla-1 and Homna and Titas under Cumilla-2.
Challenging the legality of the gazette, six individuals, including Homna upazila BNP President Mohammad Mohi Uddin, filed a writ petition last year. Following a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule on 17 September 2025 and later delivered its verdict on 8 January after disposing of the rule.
