High Court Writ Challenges Validity of Constitutional Referendum

Supreme Court lawyer ABM Ataul Majid Touhid has filed a writ in the High Court challenging the validity of the referendum held on February 12. At the same time, he has also filed a petition to annul the results of the referendum announced on February 13.

He filed this writ in public interest on Tuesday (February 17). The Chief Election Commissioner, Cabinet Secretary and Law Secretary have been made respondents in this.

The High Court bench headed by Justice Fatema Najeeb may hear the writ petition next week.

Meanwhile, 'Yes' has won the referendum held on February 12. A total of 48 million 74 thousand 429 voters voted 'Yes' in this referendum held across the country. 22 million 25 million 65 thousand 627 people voted 'No'.

It is worth noting that a total of 51 political parties and 274 independent candidates contested the 13th National Parliament elections. Among the parties, the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), which is going to form the government, fielded candidates for the highest number of 291 seats. However, none of its candidates had to lose their deposit. On the other hand, the Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami, which is going to sit in the opposition seat, fielded candidates for 229 seats. Among them, three candidates lost their deposit after not getting the required number of votes. The opposition party in the previous parliament, the Jatiya Party, contested the elections with candidates for 198 seats this time. Only five of the party's candidates were able to protect their deposit. All the others lost their deposit after not getting the required number of votes. The Jatiya Nagorik Party (NCP), a political party of youth formed around the July coup, contested in 32 seats. Three of them lost their deposit. In addition, most of the candidates from the other parties, including the Islami Andolan Bangladesh, CPB, BSD, and Nagorik Oikya, could not protect their deposit.