High Court rejects writ challenging legality of 12th parliamentary election schedule

The High Court has rejected a writ petition filed by a lawyer challenging the legality of the schedule announced for the 12th parliamentary election.

The High Court bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah gave the order on Monday after a hearing on the petition that was filed by lawyer Eunus Ali Akond on November 29, according to local news portals.

During the hearing, Eunus Ali Akond stood in favour of the petition and Attorney General AM Amin Uddin represented the state. Barrister Khan Mohammad Shamim Aziz represented the election commission in the court.

As per the schedule announced by the election commission, the 12th parliamentary election will be held on January 7, 2024.

Following the announcement of the schedule, Eunus Ali Akond sent a legal notice to the chief election commissioner (CEC) and other respondents to defer the national parliamentary election.

The notice sender had said there is a scope to defer the election according to the Article 123 of the Constitution.

Later, the petitioner file a writ petition with the High Court for 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, while the 11th Parliament is still in force.

Chief election commissioner (CEC), law secretary, cabinet secretary and four others were made respondents.