EC suspends Pabna-1, Pabna-2 elections until further court order
According to an EC circular issued on 6 January but made public today (10 January), the commission decided to keep the elections in the two constituencies scheduled for 12 February, suspended until further directives from the court.
The Election Commission has suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further directives from the court.
The decision was taken in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 5 January over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the national parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2).
According to an EC circular issued on 6 January but made public today (10 January), the commission decided to keep the elections in the two constituencies scheduled for 12 February, suspended until further directives from the court.
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On 4 September last year, the commission published a gazette on the delimitation of the country's 300 constituencies bringing changes to the boundaries of 46 constituencies, including Pabna-1 and Pabna-2, reports UNB.
As per the gazette, the Pabna-1 was formed with the entire Santhia upazila, while Pabna-2 comprised Sujanagar and Bera upazilas.
But the EC on 24 December last had to issue a revised gazette to restore the previous boundaries of the two constituencies in compliance with an order of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court.
Following the High Court order, the Pabna-1 (Constituency No 68) was formed with Santhia Upazila and parts of Bera Upazila, including Bera Municipality and the unions of Haturia Nakalia, Natun Varenga, Chakla and Kaitola.
The Pabna-2 (Constituency No 69) was again formed with Sujanagar Upazila and the remaining areas of Bera Upazila, excluding Bera Municipality and the four unions – Haturia Nakalia, Natun Varenga, Chakla and Kaitola.
Later, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Pabna-1 Mohammad Najibur Rahman and the Election Commission separately filed petitions with the Appellate Division, seeking a stay on the High Court verdict.
On 5 January, the Appellate Division stayed the effectiveness of the Election Commission's revised gazette until leave-to-appeal petitions would be filed.
As a result, the original gazette published on 4 September last year remains in force, under which Pabna-1 consists of Santhia upazila, while Pabna-2 includes Sujanagar and Bera upazilas.
