The High Court on Sunday issued a contempt of court rule against 5 officials including the Chief Election Commissioner and Election Commission Secretary for disobeying an order.

The rule was issued over publishing the gazetted election results of a union parishad at Rangunia upazila in Chattogram.

HC bench of Justice Mamnoon Rahman and Khandaker Diliruzzaman passed the order during hearing on a writ petition filed in this regard.

The HC questioned why punitive measures will not be taken against the five officials.

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CEC KM Nurul Huda, EC secretary Md Humayun Kabir, Chattogram District Commissioner Mominur Rahman, Rangunia upazila election officer Bayezid Alam, and Ratan Kanti Shil, presiding officer at the Chainipara Government Primary School polling center, were made respondents to the rule.

Petitioner’s lawyer ABM Altaf Hossain said petitioner Ahmed Kabir, a general member candidate for Kumra Union Parishad election lost by 8 votes.

On December 2, Ahmed Kabir sent an application to the CEC for a recount of the votes or reelection as there was a discrepancy between the result announced at the Chainipara school center and the number of voters.

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Getting no reply, Kabir filed a writ petition with the High Court.

On December 6, the HC ordered to settle the appeal within 15 work days and suspended issuing gazette on the UP election result until then.

On December 23, the gazetted election result was published by CEC without settling the petition.