The High Court has issued a rule seeking an explanation why the election in Pabna 1 constituency (Santhia-Bera) should not be declared cancelled.
High Court bench of Justice Soumendra Sarkar issued the rule in response to a petition filed by Prof Abu Sayed, an Independent candidate of Pabna 1 constituency.
State minister of the ninth parliament Shamsul Haque Tuku won the election, with 65,929, votes beating his nearest contestant Prof Abu Sayeed who received 45,379 votes.
Allegation of vote rigging was raised against Tuku's son Ashik Al Shams.
Presiding officers of two polling stations , Atiqur Rahman and Sakhawat Hossain, had also made similar complaints. They had sent a letter to the TNO regarding the matter.
Pabna 1 MP Shamsul Haque Tuku, candidates of the election Yasir Arafat (JP Monju) and Nazrul Islam, the chief election commissioner, deputy commissioner of Pabna and returning officer have been made respondents to the rule.
The respondents have been asked to give an explanation within three weeks.
In the petition, filed on January 29, Abu Sayed claimed that a significant amount of the votes were rigged in Pabna 1 constituency and that Tuku had misused his powers.
Abu Sayed also attached a copy of a news item published in the Dhaka Tribune titled “Polls-rigging allegation against Tuku's son”.
