TDS Desk:

The Appellate Division on Thursday cleared the way for holding the elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on 12 February in accordance with the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s 4 September gazette.

An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order.

As per the order, Sathia upazila will constitute Pabna-1 constituency, while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will form Pabna-2.

Acting Attorney General Arshadur Rouf Additional Attorney General Anik R Haque stood for the EC while Barrister Imran Abdullah Siddique and Barrister HM Shanjid Siddique represented Jamaat-e-Islami and BNP respectively.

On 14 January, the High Court fixed 15 January for hearing on the leave-to-appeal petition filed challenging the validity of the gazette issued by the Election Commission (EC).

On 10 January, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further order from the court.

The decision was taken in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on 5 January over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the parliamentary constituencies No. 68 (Pabna-1) and No. 69 (Pabna-2).

According to an EC circular issued on 6 January, the commission decided to keep the elections scheduled for 12 February in the two constituencies suspended until further directives from the court.

On 4 September last year, the Election Commission published a gazette on the delimitation of the country’s 300 constituencies bringing changes to the boundaries of 46 constituencies, including Pabna-1 and Pabna-2.

As per the gazette, the Pabna-1 was formed with the entire Santhia upazila, while Pabna-2 comprised Sujanagar and Bera upazilas.

But the EC on 24 December issued a revised gazette to restore the previous boundaries of the two constituencies in compliance with an order of the High Court.

Following the High Court order, the Pabna-1 (Constituency No. 68) was formed with Santhia Upazila and parts of Bera Upazila, including Bera Municipality and the unions of Haturia Nakalia, Natun Varenga, Chakla and Kaitola.

The Pabna-2 (Constituency No. 69) was again formed with Sujanagar Upazila and the remaining areas of Bera Upazila, excluding Bera Municipality and the four unions — Haturia Nakalia, Natun Varenga, Chakla and Kaitola.

Later, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate for Pabna-1 Mohammad Najibur Rahman and the Election Commission filed separate petitions with the Appellate Division, seeking a stay on the High Court verdict.

On 5 January, the Appellate Division stayed the effectiveness of the Election Commission’s revised gazette until leave-to-appeal petitions would be filed.