The High Court (HC) on Monday rejected a writ petition challenging the legality of the 12th parliament polls schedule by fixing the polling date on next January 7.
The HC bench of Justice Mustafa Zaman Islam and Justice Md Atabullah passed the order after hearing the petition.
Md Eunus Ali Akond, a Supreme Court lawyer, filed the petition as a public interest litigation with the HC on November 29 seeking a stay on the schedule of the upcoming national poll on January 7 while the 11th parliament is still in force that the EC issued on November 15.
Barrister Khan Mohammad Shameem Aziz who appeared in the hearing on behalf of the Election Commission (EC) said, "The election schedule announced by the EC remains valid, as the writ petition has been rejected. The HC order allows the EC to proceed with the process of holding the 12th parliamentary election on January 7."
The petitioner Md Eunus Ali Akond also prayed to the HC to issue a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the election schedule announced for the 12th parliament by fixing the polling date on January 7 in 2024, should not be declared illegal.
The Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), Law Secretary, Cabinet Secretary and four others were made respondents.
The HC bench held hearing on the writ petition on December 3 and 4. After completing the hearing, the HC bench fixed December 10 for passing the order. However, the writ petitioner on December 10, sought time to place more submissions. Then the court fixed December 11 for passing an order on it.
Lawyer Eunus Ali Akond himself argued in support of his petition, while Attorney General AM Amin Uddin and Additional Attorney General Mehedi Hasan Chowdhury represented the state. Barrister Khan Mohammad Shameem Aziz appeared for the EC.
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