Dhaka, Jan 15 (V7N) — The Appellate Division has ruled that there is no legal obstacle to holding the upcoming national elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on February 12, in line with the gazette issued earlier by the Election Commission (EC) after redefining constituency boundaries.

According to the ruling, Sathia Upazila will remain Pabna-1, while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas together will constitute Pabna-2.

The order was issued on Thursday by an Appellate Division bench headed by the Chief Justice, which stayed a later EC gazette that had declared the merger of Pabna-1 with Pabna-2 by excluding four unions and municipalities of Bera Upazila from Pabna-1 and adding them to Pabna-2.

The acting Attorney General represented the Election Commission during the hearing.

Lawyers representing BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates from the two constituencies argued that the election process is already well underway. They informed the court that postal ballots have been sent and that postponing the election at this stage would create serious administrative and legal complications.

Considering these arguments, the Appellate Division decided that the elections would proceed as per the EC’s original gazette issued on September 4, following the earlier re-demarcation of constituencies.

As a result, polling in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 will be held on February 12 as scheduled, ensuring continuity of the electoral process in the two constituencies.

END/SMA/AJ