Elections Scheduled for Pabna’s Two Seats

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has cleared the way for elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, ruling that the polls can proceed as scheduled on 12 February. The decision was issued on Thursday (15 January) during a hearing presided over by the Chief Justice.

The hearing saw representation from the Election Commission (EC) by the Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rahman Rauf and Additional Attorney General Anik Ar Hak. Meanwhile, the Jamaat-e-Islami candidate, Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddiqui, and the BNP candidate, Barrister H.M. Sanjid Siddiqui, appeared on behalf of their respective parties.

This follows a High Court ruling on Wednesday (14 January) that declared a government gazette, issued by the Election Commission, invalid. The gazette had proposed removing four unions and the municipality of Bera Upazila from Pabna-1 and incorporating them into Pabna-2. In response to the High Court verdict, a leave-to-appeal hearing was scheduled at the Appellate Division for Thursday.

The appeal was filed on 13 January challenging the EC’s decision to suspend election activities in the two constituencies. Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Barrister Najibur Rahman Momen lodged the appeal, requesting that electoral preparations proceed according to the original schedule.

Earlier, on 5 January, the Appellate Division had stayed the 24 December gazette, which had redefined the boundaries of Pabna-1 and Pabna-2, pending resolution of the leave-to-appeal. The High Court had also declared parts of the boundary changes, which shifted certain areas from Pabna-1 to Pabna-2, as legally unauthorised. Following this, the two constituencies were restored to their previous boundaries, with instructions to publish a revised gazette within 24 hours.

The constituencies’ current boundaries, according to the original and revised gazettes, are outlined below:

With the Appellate Division’s latest ruling, the Election Commission is now expected to resume electoral activities, and the voting process in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 will proceed on 12 February as scheduled.