Following the 13th National Parliamentary Election, five candidates have lodged fresh complaints of alleged electoral malpractice with the High Court. Four of these candidates represent the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), while one is from the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP).
The cases are scheduled for hearing on Monday, 9 March, before a single-judge electoral bench led by Justice Md. Zakir Hossain. Court sources confirmed the identities of the new applicants as follows:
| Constituency | Candidate | Political Party | Allegation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Comilla-11 | Md. Kamrul Huda | BNP | Vote manipulation |
| Mymensingh-2 | Motahar Hossain Talukdar | BNP | Vote manipulation |
| Chandpur-4 | Md. Harunur Rashid | BNP | Vote manipulation |
| Sirajganj-4 | M Akbar Ali | BNP | Vote manipulation |
| Chattogram-14 | Omar Faruk | LDP | Vote manipulation |
In addition to these new cases, more than 20 candidates have filed similar petitions with the High Court between 26 February and 8 March, alleging irregularities during the elections. In response, the court has ordered the preservation of ballot papers, result sheets, and other electoral materials associated with the contested constituencies.
A summary of the election petitions received by the electoral bench so far is as follows:
| Political Party | Number of Petitions |
|---|---|
| BNP | 10 |
| Jamaat | 7 |
| Independent | 1 |
Under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, candidates may approach the High Court to seek remedies against any electoral misconduct or vote rigging. Justice Md. Zakir Hossain’s single-judge bench is responsible for accepting and hearing these election petitions in accordance with the law.
Notably, the High Court now fully administers the election petition process, as per the 2001 amendment to the 1972 Representation of the People Order. Through this judicial mechanism, any alleged irregularities are investigated, relevant documents are preserved, and the rights of candidates are safeguarded.
With the addition of these five new cases, the total number of election-related petitions concerning alleged vote rigging in the 13th parliamentary elections has now exceeded 25. This surge underscores the court’s active role in reinforcing electoral transparency and accountability, ensuring that any malpractice is thoroughly addressed.