Elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 to be held on 12 Feb: Apex Court 

The Appellate Division has today (15 February) cleared the way for elections in the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, ending uncertainty surrounding constituency boundaries ahead of the 13TH national election slated for 12 February.

The court, led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury, ruled that polls could proceed in line with the Election Commission's latest gazette on constituency delimitation, under which Sathia upazila will fall under Pabna-1, while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will together form Pabna-2.

The order came after the court (Appellate Division) stayed a High Court (HC) order that had declared illegal the EC's decision to transfer four unions and a municipality of Bera upazila from Pabna-1 to Pabna-2.

With the stay in place, the gazette remains effective, removing legal barriers to holding the election, said acting attorney general Mohammad Arshadur Rouf said.

Additional Attorney General Aneek R Haque, accompanied by others, represented the Election Commission (EC), while lawyers stood for candidates of Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP.

The dispute over boundaries had prompted the EC to suspend election activities in the two constituencies earlier this month, citing the need for legal clarity following conflicting court rulings. 

On 13 January, Jamaat candidate Barrister Nazibur Rahman Momen submitted an application with the Appellate Division seeking directions to resume the electoral process and hold polls on time.

Previously, on 5 January, the Appellate Division had stayed the EC's 24 December gazette redefining the constituencies until the disposal of a leave to appeal against the HC order.

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