Three Constituencies’ Election Results Challenged as Three More Candidates Approach High Court

Three separate election petitions challenging the results of parliamentary polls in three constituencies have been accepted for hearing by the High Court in Bangladesh. The orders were issued on Wednesday by Justice Mohammad Ali, sitting as a single-member vacation bench of the High Court Division.

The petitions were filed by three losing candidates who have alleged irregularities, discrepancies and procedural violations in the counting and conduct of votes. The court has also directed the Election Commission to preserve all relevant electoral materials, including ballot boxes, pending further proceedings.

Petitioners and constituencies

The three petitioners are:

• Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain, BNP candidate for Bagerhat-2
• Md Mainul Alam, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Dinajpur-3
• Md Abdul Hakim, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Thakurgaon-2

Senior lawyers, including Moniruzzaman Asad, Gazi Kamrul Islam and Sakib Mahbub, represented Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain. Advocate M K Shahnewaz appeared for the two Jamaat-e-Islami candidates. Deputy Attorney General Mohammad Shafiqul Rahman represented the State.

Election results overview

The declared results of the three constituencies are as follows:

Allegations of irregularities

In the case concerning Bagerhat-2, counsel for the petitioner alleged multiple irregularities in the polling process. These included incomplete voter records on polling sheets, where names were recorded without national identity numbers, as well as instances where polling agents were allegedly removed from centres before the end of voting.

The petitioner has sought cancellation of the election result and a fresh poll in the constituency. The High Court, while admitting the petition for hearing, ordered the preservation of all electoral materials and fixed 21 May for the next hearing.

In the cases relating to Dinajpur-3 and Thakurgaon-2, similar allegations of irregularities in vote counting and manipulation of results have been raised. The petitioners have requested either a re-count of votes or a declaration of victory in their favour following proper scrutiny.

The court has accepted both petitions for hearing and scheduled 10 June for further proceedings.

Legal context

Under Bangladesh’s electoral law, any candidate dissatisfied with the official gazette notification of election results may file an election petition before the High Court. A special bench was constituted on 17 February by the Chief Justice to hear such petitions.

Since its formation, the bench has been actively handling election-related disputes. Between 26 February and 12 March, it accepted 36 separate petitions from 36 candidates. During the ongoing judicial vacation period beginning 15 March, the bench has continued to exercise jurisdiction over election matters alongside civil cases. On 16 March, it admitted two petitions, followed by three more on Wednesday, reflecting an ongoing rise in electoral litigation following the parliamentary polls.