The High Court has suspended the election results for the Dhaka-4 constituency in the 12th national parliamentary election.
At the same time, the court has ordered an investigation within 10 days into allegations of irregularities at 18 polling centres in this constituency.
The court has directed the Election Commission (EC) to refrain from publishing a gazette declaring independent candidate Awlad Hossain as the winner until the investigation is completed.
This order was issued by a High Court bench comprising Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice Dr Md Bashir Ullah during a hearing of a writ petition on Tuesday.
Advocate Motahar Hossain Saju and Barrister Shah Monjurul Hoque stood for the writ petitioner.
Earlier on the same day, Advocate Sanjida Khanam, the closest competitor in that constituency, filed a writ in the High Court seeking cancellation of the results due to allegations of irregularities in voting at 18 centres.
The Dhaka-4 constituency comprises Sutrapur and Demra upazilas. In this constituency, independent candidate Awlad Hossain with the Truck symbol defeated the Awami League's nominated candidate Sanjida Khanam with the Boat symbol.
Awlad Hossain received a total of 24,775 votes, while Sanjida Khanam secured 22,577 votes with the Boat symbol. The Jatiya Party candidate Syed Abu Hossain Babla, with the Plough symbol, received 7,798 votes.
