The High Court has directed that ballots and other election materials from five constituencies be preserved following allegations of vote rigging in the 13th National Parliamentary Elections.
The order came after several defeated candidates filed petitions challenging the election results.
An election tribunal bench of Justice Md Zakir Hossain heard the petitions on Monday.
After reviewing the applications, the court accepted them and instructed that all ballots and necessary election equipment from the constituencies be secured.
The petitioners include four BNP candidates-Md Kamrul Huda of Comilla-11 constituency, Motahar Hossain Talukdar of Mymensingh-2 constituency, Md Harunur Rashid of Chandpur-4 constituency, and M Akbar Ali of Sirajganj-4 constituency. Additionally, Omar Faruk, candidate of the Liberal Democratic Party in Chattogram-14 constituency, also filed a petition citing alleged irregularities.
Several other defeated candidates have already approached the election tribunal with similar complaints.
Following the High Court’s instructions, ballots and relevant election materials from these constituencies will be preserved for further scrutiny.
Under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, petitioners have the right to challenge election irregularities within 45 days of gazette notification of the elected members.
Justice Md Zakir Hossain’s bench is hearing these petitions in accordance with the amended 1972 Representation of the People Order.
