Voting for two seats postponed

The Election Commission (EC) of Bangladesh has once again drawn attention for frequently altering key decisions linked to the upcoming national parliamentary elections. From contentious issues such as determining constituency boundaries to assessing candidate eligibility, the constitutional body has issued conflicting rulings at different times. On several occasions, unofficial decisions by returning officers have even prompted the EC to reverse its own determinations, raising concerns over the consistency and transparency of the electoral process. These developments have had a direct impact on both national elections and voter participation.

The latest controversy centres on the constituencies of Pabna-1 and Pabna-2. Due to repeated changes in boundary decisions, which have led to legal complications, the EC has decided to temporarily suspend elections in these two seats. Initially, the EC filed appeals against the High Court’s rulings on the boundaries, only to withdraw them unexpectedly.

Following a ruling by the Appellate Division on 5 January, the EC has acted to suspend elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 “for the time being.” Prior to this, the EC had issued a gazette notification on 24 December, modifying constituency boundaries in accordance with the High Court’s orders.

The table below summarises the changes:

However, the Appellate Division suspended part of the EC’s 24 December notification, stating the suspension would remain in effect until leave to appeal was sought. Consequently, the EC’s boundary changes for the two Pabna constituencies have been effectively upheld until further legal resolution.

According to multiple EC officials who requested anonymity, similar boundary disputes in Bagerhat and Gazipur were resolved through appeals, but the EC did not wait for the Pabna appeal process to conclude before adjusting boundaries ahead of nomination deadlines.

When asked about the suspension, Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Mashud told Jugantor on Thursday evening: “It cannot be said that the elections in these two constituencies have been fully cancelled. We have only decided to suspend them temporarily. The suspension will remain in place until the Supreme Court issues further instructions.”

The ongoing legal and administrative uncertainties underline the complex challenges facing Bangladesh’s Election Commission as it prepares for national polls, and the final outcome for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 may set a precedent for handling future boundary disputes.