Security Risks Prompt Legal Warning to Delay National Parliamentary Poll

A legal notice has been issued demanding the postponement of the 13th national parliamentary election in Bangladesh until all looted weapons are recovered, highlighting significant concerns regarding public safety and electoral integrity. The notice stipulates that, if necessary measures are not taken within seven days, a public interest writ petition will be filed in the High Court under Article 102 of the Constitution.

The notice was served on Sunday by Supreme Court lawyer Mr Mahmudul Hasan to senior officials including the Cabinet Secretary, the Secretary of the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Secretary of the Ministry of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, the Secretary of the Election Commission, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), and the Director General of the Rapid Action Battalion (RAB).

According to the notice, the Election Commission had announced that both the parliamentary election and the July Charter referendum would be held simultaneously on 12 February 2026. However, the failure to recover looted arms has transformed the electoral environment into what the notice describes as a “powder keg,” raising the risk of violent incidents and threats to candidates and voters alike.

The legal notice specifically references the shooting of candidate Osman Hadi, arguing that the incident demonstrates the lethal dangers posed by the presence of unaccounted weapons. It asserts that conducting the election without securing these arms would place candidates’ lives at risk and contravene citizens’ fundamental right to life under Article 32 of the Constitution.

While the July Charter referendum is described as a matter of national consensus and a component of state reform, the parliamentary election is inherently a highly competitive process. The notice argues that holding a national poll amid the circulation of illegal arms would be a reckless and potentially self-destructive course of action.

The lawyer emphasised that, while the July Charter referendum should proceed on the scheduled date, the parliamentary election must be postponed until all looted weapons are recovered and a safe, orderly electoral environment can be guaranteed.

Analysts note that this legal intervention draws attention to the broader challenge of safeguarding elections in contexts of political violence. By linking security measures to constitutional rights and electoral legitimacy, the notice underscores the government’s responsibility to protect both candidates and the electorate while maintaining democratic processes.