A High Court bench yesterday refused to hear a writ petition that challenged the election result of Dhaka-8 constituency.

The bench of Justice Syed Refaat Ahmed and Justice Md Iqbal Kabir Lytton also dropped the petition from its hearing list, saying that it has no jurisdiction to hear the election-related petition.

The bench, however, said the petitioner has liberty to move the same petition before any other HC bench.

Writ petitioner Advocate Md Eunus Ali Akond, who was the Jatiya Party candidate for the constituency, told The Daily Star that he would move the petition before another HC bench on Sunday.

In the petition filed on January 1, Advocate Eunus sought an HC directive upon the Election Commission (EC) to cancel the result of Dhaka-8, citing irregularities.

According to the petition, Eunus also prayed to the HC to order EC not to include Rashed Khan Menon as the elected candidate in the gazette notification.

Menon, the grand alliance candidate of Dhaka-8, won the December 30 general election from the constituency.

Citing the petition, Advocate Eunus said agents of all parties except Awami League were not allowed in the polling centres during the election. The voter turnout was very low, but the result said the opposite, he said.

He also said Rashed Khan Menon is the president of Bangladesh Workers Party and his party's election symbol is “sickle”. But he ran the race with Awami League's election symbol “boat”, breaching the Representation of People Order (RPO).

Awami League today congratulated the Election Commission for holding a “wonderful, free and fair national election”.

An Awami League delegation led by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s Advisor HT Imam also conveyed a message to the Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda saying that people will have more confidence on the EC after the national election held on December 30.

“We came to the commission to felicitate them on completing a wonderful election,” HT Imam told reporters after holding a meeting with the CEC at Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka’s Agargaon.

"No other elections of the past were so disciplined and well coordinated and the EC performed its constitutional duties wonderfully," he said.

“People will have more confidence on the EC now. The way we are getting recognition from aboard after the election, which has made us proud,” he added.

When his attention was drawn on Jatiya Oikyafront and BNP’s demand of fresh election under neutral government, HT Imam said, “New election is not possible. Demand of caretaker government is an old one. So discussion on that issue will not be fruitful.”

The EC certainly will take necessary steps if there have been any irregularities during election, he further said.

Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has said the people voted her party to power after evaluating the fruit of development borne in her previous terms.

“The countrymen have gained benefit of the development work of my government, and thus they cast their votes for us,” She told foreign observers today.

She was speaking to observers from at least 30 different countries during a view-exchange meeting at her official residence Gono Bhaban this evening.

Hasina, also president of the ruling Awami League, said she fought for holding the election in a transparent manner so that people can exercise their voting rights.

She said BNP-Jamaat led alliance has plunged into a setback in the just concluded election as they have indulged in the acts of terrorism and corruption.

The premier also drew attention of the international observers so that they can play a role form their respective levels to accelerate the repatriation process of the Rohingyas from Bangladesh.