HC bins writ seeking stay on 13th national election

The High Court (HC) on Monday dismissed a writ petition that sought a stay on all activities related to the upcoming 13th National Parliament Election, scheduled for February 2026 as per the government announcement.

The HC bench of Justice Sikder Mahmudur Razi and Justice Raziuddin Ahmed rejected the petition on the ground that it had not been formally placed before the court for hearing.

The bench told the petitioner that the entire country is now election-oriented and that this is not the appropriate time to file a writ seeking postponement of the polls. Such petitions, it noted, are not acceptable at this stage.

Advocate Md Earul Islam, secretary general of the political party Bangladesh Congress, filed the writ. "Understanding the court's stance, I have withdrawn the petition in the greater interest of the nation. I will not pursue it further," he said.

The petition was initially filed on December 3 seeking a stay on all activities related to the 2026 national election.

It also sought an HC rule asking why the decision to appoint deputy commissioners (DCs) and upazila nirbahi officers (UNOs) as returning officers and assistant returning officers-replacing district and upazila election officers-should not be declared illegal.

Additionally, the petitioner prayed for a stay on the election process and sought a declaration that the appointment of the Election Commission (EC) secretary, returning officers, and assistant returning officers by the executive branch is illegal.