Electoral Update: Commission Denies Postponing Two Pabna Polls

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has issued a formal clarification to dispel widespread rumours regarding the postponement of the upcoming national polls in the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies. On Friday, 9 January 2026, a press note released via the Press Information Department (PID) confirmed that no such decision to cancel or indefinitely delay the elections in these regions had been made by the Commission.

This clarification followed a morning of media frenzy where several outlets, citing a misinterpretation of a senior official’s comments, reported that the electoral process in these two seats had been halted. The EC has since requested all media organisations to retract the erroneous reports and cease the circulation of misleading information that could cause public confusion.

Judicial Context and Boundary Complexities

The root of the confusion lies in a complex legal dispute regarding the redrawing of constituency boundaries. On 24 December 2025, the Election Commission issued a revised notification aimed at reinstating the previous boundaries for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. However, this was challenged in court, leading to a significant ruling by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 5 January.

A bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury stayed the relevant portion of the EC’s December notification. This judicial intervention was prompted by petitions filed by the EC itself and an aspiring candidate, both contesting an earlier High Court verdict.

Constituency Dispute Overview

Clarification of “Activity Suspension” vs “Cancellation”

Earlier on Friday, a statement attributed to Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud was misinterpreted by the press. While the Commissioner acknowledged that certain “electoral activities” would remain paused in compliance with the Supreme Court’s stay order until further judicial directives were issued, he emphasised that the elections themselves had not been cancelled.

“The election has not been postponed,” the Commissioner clarified during a secondary briefing. “Rather, the specific procedural activities affected by the boundary dispute are temporarily held in abeyance pending a final decision from the Supreme Court.”

The EC maintains that it is committed to holding the February elections on schedule. The Commission’s proactive stance in correcting these reports aims to maintain voter confidence and ensure the integrity of the democratic process in the Pabna region.