EC to challenge stay order on Gazipur polls

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to challenge a High Court (HC) order that stalled Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) polls, report agencies.

The commission's decision comes two days after the court stayed the polls for three months following the hearing of a writ petition filed by local Awami League leader and Shimulia-1 Union Parishad chairman ABM Azharul Islam Suroj on Sunday.

Nine days before the elections, Suroj objected to the inclusion of six Mouzas or administrative districts of his union to the city corporation.

"We have decided to appeal against the stay order and have appointed a lawyer. We'll proceed discussing with senior lawyers," Election Commission Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed told reporters on Tuesday.

He termed the stay order 'unfortunate' as EC had already taken clearance from the Local Government Division twice for holding the Gazipur ballot.

The stay order came as a blow for many as the election campaign in Gazipur had reached its peak with the mayoral candidates of the two major parties - the Awami League and the BNP - criticising each other and defending themselves.