The High Court has accepted five separate petitions challenging the results of the 13th National Parliamentary elections in Bangladesh. A single-judge bench, presided over by Justice Md. Zakir Hossain, formally approved the petitions for hearing on Wednesday.
The cases allege vote rigging and irregularities across Dhaka-5, Dhaka-13, Pabna-3, Gaibandha-5, and Kushtia-4. Of the five petitioners, four are candidates from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while one represents the 11-party alliance led by Jamaat-e-Islami.
Petitioners and Legal Representatives
| Constituency | Petitioner | Party/Alliance | Legal Representative |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka-5 | Md. Nabi Ulla | BNP | Sakib Mahbub |
| Dhaka-13 | Md. Mamunul Haque | 11-party alliance (Jamaat-e-Islami-supported) | Sonchita Siddiqui |
| Kushtia-4 | Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi | BNP | K.M. Mamun Or Rashid |
| Pabna-3 | Md. Hasan Zafir Tuhin | BNP | Md. Nazmul Islam |
| Gaibandha-5 | Md. Faruq Alam Sarkar | BNP | A.M. Mahbub Uddin Khokon |
The Chief Justice had previously assigned a single-judge bench on 17 February to consider election petitions. These five petitions were listed as motions (new cases) in Wednesday’s court agenda.
Voting Results and Margins
The contested constituencies reveal narrow vote margins, forming the basis of the petitions.
| Constituency | Winning Candidate | Votes | Runner-up | Votes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhaka-5 | Mohammad Kamal Hossain | 96,641 | Md. Nabi Ulla | 87,491 |
| Dhaka-13 | Bobby Hajjaj | 88,387 | Md. Mamunul Haque | 86,667 |
| Kushtia-4 | Mohammad Afzal Hossain | 148,201 | Syed Mehedi Ahmed Rumi | 139,603 |
| Pabna-3 | Muhammad Ali Asgar | 147,475 | Md. Hasan Zafir Tuhin | 144,206 |
| Gaibandha-5 | Mohammad Abdul Waresh | 89,274 | Md. Faruq Alam Sarkar | 73,483 |
In Dhaka-13, Mamunul Haque’s lawyer, Sonchita Siddiqui, told Prothom Alo that the petition was filed due to alleged irregularities. The High Court has instructed that all electoral equipment in the constituency be preserved for inspection. Similarly, Md. Nazmul Islam, representing Hasan Zafir Tuhin in Pabna-3, confirmed that the petition has been scheduled for hearing on 14 June.
Broader Electoral Context
Following the official gazette publication of results, any candidate can file a petition with the High Court to challenge an election outcome. From 26 February to 9 March, the same bench accepted 22 petitions from 22 candidates for hearing, illustrating ongoing scrutiny of the parliamentary election process.
These five latest petitions highlight the persistent tensions and legal oversight surrounding Bangladesh’s elections. As multiple constituencies undergo judicial examination, the High Court’s decisions will play a key role in determining the credibility and integrity of the electoral process.