The Appellate Division on Thursday cleared the way for holding the elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on February 12 in accordance with the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s September 4 gazette.
An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order.
As per the order, Sathia upazila will constitute Pabna-1 constituency while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will form Pabna-2.
Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rouf Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque stood for the EC while Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddique and Barrister HM Shanjid Siddiaue represented Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP respectively.
On January 14, the High Court fixed January 15 for hearing on the leave-to-appeal petition filed challenging the validity of the gazette issued by the Election Commission (EC).
On January 10, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further order from the court .
The decision was taken in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on January 5 over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2).
According to an EC circular issued on January 6, the commission decided to keep the elections scheduled for February 12 in the two constituencies suspended until further directives from the court.
On September 4 last year, the Election 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.
As per the gazette, the Pabna-1 was formed with the entire Santhia upazila, while Pabna-2 comprised Sujanagar and Bera upazilas.
EC suspends Pabna-1, Pabna-2 elections until further court order
But the EC on December 24 last issued a revised gazette to restore the previous boundaries of the two constituencies in compliance with an order of the High 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 filed separate petitions with the Appellate Division, seeking a stay on the High Court verdict.
On January 5, the Appellate Division stayed the effectiveness of the Election Commission’s revised gazette until leave-to-appeal petitions would be filed.