Staff Reporter :
The High Court on Monday summarily rejected a writ petition filed challenging the legality of the election schedule announced for the 12th Parliament by fixing the polling date on January 7 in 2024, while the 11th Parliament is still in force.
The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after hearing on the petition.
Barrister Khan Mohammad Shameem Aziz who appeared in the hearing on behalf of the Election Commission (EC) said, “The election schedule announced by the Election Commission remains valid, as the writ petition has been rejected.
The HC order clears the way for the EC to continue the process for holding the 12th parliamentary election on January 7.”
Md Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition as a public interest litigation with the HC on November 29 seeking a stay on the schedule that the EC issued on November 15 for holding the election on January 7.
The petitioner also prayed to the HC to issue a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the election schedule announced for the 12th Parliament by fixing the polling date on January 7 in 2024 should not be declared illegal.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Law Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and four others were made respondents.
The HC bench held hearing on the writ petition on December 3 and 4.
After completing the hearing the HC bench fixed December 10 for passing order. However, the writ petitioner on December 10 sought time to place more submission.
Then the court fixed December 11 for passing order on it. Lawyer Eunus Ali Akond himself argued in support of his petition, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented the state. Barrister Khan Mohammad Shameem Aziz appeared for the EC.
