The Election Commission on Thursday announced a fresh election schedule for Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies to hold polls on February 12 next in line with the order of the Appellate Division.
The election schedule was declared cancelling the previous schedule announced on December 11 last as per the court order passed on Thursday, said a notification issued by the EC, reports UNB.
According to the new schedule, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is January 18, while the scrutiny of the nomination papers is on January 19 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is January 26.
The appeals can be submitted with the Election Commission from January 20 to 24, challenging the decisions of the returning officers over acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers.
The EC will hear and dispose of the appeal petitions, if any, on January 25. The symbols will be allocated on January 27.
The voting will be held from 7:30am to 4:30pm on February 12, simultaneously with the election to the country’s rest 298 constituencies and referendum.
The Election Commission recently suspended the election in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies until further directives from the court.
An EC circular was issued on January 6 but made public on January 10, suspending the election to the two constituencies in line with an order issued by the Appellate Division of the Supreme Court on January 5 over a dispute regarding the demarcation of the two constituencies, the national parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2).
On January 15, the Appellate Division cleared the way for holding the elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies on February 12 in accordance with the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s September 4 gazette.
An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury passed the order.
As per the order, Sathia upazila will constitute Pabna-1 constituency while Sujanagar and Bera upazilas will form Pabna-2.
