Redrawing boundaries of Pirojpur-1, 2 JS seats legal: HC

The High Court (HC) on Sunday declared legal the gazette notification that had redrawn the boundaries of the Pirojpur-1 and 2 parliamentary constituencies.
The HC bench of Justice Farah Mahbub and Justice Muhammad Mahbub Ul Islam delivered the verdict after hearing two writ petitions filed by some residents of those constituencies challenging the legality of the gazette notification.
Following the writ petitions, the HC bench on July 30 issued a rule upon the respondents to explain as to why the gazette notification that had redrawn the Pirojpur-1 and 2 constituencies should not be declared illegal.
Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) and other respondents were asked to comply with the rule within two weeks. After final hearing, the court discharged the rule. It observed that the EC has the jurisdiction to redraw any electoral boundaries.
Lawyers MK Rahman, Mustafizur Rahman Khan, Sumaiya Ifrit Bine Ahmed and others appeared in the court hearing on behalf of the writ petitioners while lawyer Kamal Hossain Meahzi represented the EC.
Election Commission in June this year through a gazette notification had redrawn the boundaries of 10 parliamentary seats, including Pirojpur-1 and 2, ahead of the 12th general election at the end of the year or early next year.
The new gazette included Indurkani upazila with the Pirojpur-1 constituency: However, it was under the Pirojpur-2 constituency earlier. Again, it included Nesarabad upazila with the Pirojpur-2 constituency, while it was with the Pirojpur-1 constituency earlier.

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