HC stays Sandwip municipal polls for 3 months

The High Court on Saturday stayed the election to Sandwip pourasava for three months and issued a rule nisi in this regard, a press release said.

A division bench comprising Justice Mohammad Joynul Abedin and Justice Abdus Salam Mamun passed the order. The election is scheduled to be held on January 7.

The Election Commission earlier had fixed the election date on October 28, 1999 but it was stayed by the High Court upon a writ petition filed by a voter of the pourasava.

However, the court later vacated the stay order and the Election Commission refixed the date on July 20, 2002.

But the voters turnout in that election was almost nil. Only two votes were cast and those were cancelled during counting.

The Election Commission again fixed a fresh election date on January 7 through a notice on December 21, 2002.

Nine voters of the pourasava filed a writ petition before the High Court challenging the notice of the Election Commission on December 21, 2002 demanding a fresh schedule of the pourasava election.

Barrister Mainul Hosein along with Advocate Bashir Uddin Jindegi moved the petition on behalf of the petitioners.