Three Parliamentary Seats’ Results Challenged in Court

In the aftermath of the Thirteenth National Parliamentary Election, three candidates have filed separate election petitions in the High Court, challenging the results of their respective constituencies. Justice Mohammad Ali’s single-member vacation bench accepted the petitions for hearing on Wednesday.

The petitioners are:

• Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain (BNP) from Bagerhat-2
• Md. Mainul Alam (Jamaat-e-Islami) from Dinajpur-3
• Md. Abdul Hakim (Jamaat-e-Islami) from Thakurgaon-2

During the hearing, Sheikh Zakir Hossain was represented by Senior Advocate Moniruzzaman Asad along with lawyers Gazi Kamrul Islam and Sakib Mahbub. The Jamaat candidates were represented by Advocate M. K. Shahnewaz, while Deputy Attorney General Muhammad Shafiqul Rahman appeared on behalf of the state.

The official election results for these constituencies were as follows:

Sheikh Zakir Hossain’s lawyer, Sakib Mahbub, stated that the petition raises multiple allegations of electoral irregularities in Bagerhat-2, including discrepancies in polling sheets, incomplete or missing national ID numbers, and premature removal of voters by polling agents. The petition seeks annulment of the election results and a re-election. The High Court has directed the Election Commission to preserve all ballot boxes and related materials. The next hearing has been scheduled for 21 May.

Meanwhile, petitions filed by Md. Mainul Alam (Dinajpur-3) and Md. Abdul Hakim (Thakurgaon-2) also allege irregularities and manipulation in vote counting. Their lawyer, M. K. Shahnewaz, told the press that the petitions request annulment of the official results and a recount to declare the petitioners as winners. The High Court has accepted both petitions for hearing, which will take place on 10 June.

According to electoral law, any candidate dissatisfied with official election results may file a petition in the High Court following publication of the results in the government gazette. The Chief Justice had designated a single-member bench on 17 February to receive and hear election petitions. Between 26 February and 12 March, the bench accepted 36 separate petitions from 36 candidates. Despite the Supreme Court’s vacation commencing on 15 March, this bench continues to hear and adjudicate election-related cases, having already accepted two petitions on 16 March and three today.

These petitions underscore the critical importance of transparency and fairness in Bangladesh’s electoral process, highlighting ongoing scrutiny over voting integrity in key constituencies.