Dhaka, Feb 14 – At least 74 Jatiya Oikya Front leaders filed separate writ petitions with the High Court seeking cancellation of the December 30 national election to their constituencies, citing widespread irregularities.
In their petitions, they sought HC directives upon the authorities concerned to cancel the December 30 election results of their constituencies and to direct the Election Commission to hold fresh elections there.
Jatiya Oikaya Front leaders filed the 74 separate writ petitions before the related branch of the High Court from yesterday morning to the afternoon at 5.00pm.
Barrister Ehsanur Rahman, one of the counsels for Oikya Front leaders, told The Journlists that with yesterday’s 74 petitions a total of 81 Oikya Front leaders have been filed before the High Court challenging the legality of the December 30 national election results as widespread irregularities took place during the 11th parliamentary elections.
Among the 81 petitions, a total of seven petitions have been filed with the High Court regarding the matter on Tuesday and Wednesday while the remaining 74 were filed yesterday before the election tribunal of the High Court, he explain. Some other petitions may also file with the HC over the matter, he added.
In the petitions, the petitioners alleged that a widespread vote rigging took place during the elections. Such types of votes rigging were not happened in the history of the Bangladesh. In many centers 100 per cent votes have been cast, which is whimsical. There was a information that in some centers dead people have cast their votes, which was unusual, Rahman said.
The plaintiffs include are: Subrata Chowdhury of Dhaka 6 constituency, Moinul Islam Shanto of Manikganj 2 constituency, Mofizul Islam Khan Kamal of Manikganj 3 constituency, Mejor General (retd) AAS Amin of Kurigram 2 constituency, Abdul Monem Chowdhury of Chattogram 15 constituency, Saiful Islam Firoze of Jinaidah 4 constituency, Joynul Abedin of Barisal 3 constituency, Ashraf Uddin of Narsingdi 5 constituency, Nazrul Islam Azad of Narayanganj 2 constituency, Nabi Ulha Nabi of Dhaka 5 constituency, and Irfan Ibne Aman of Dhaka 2 constituency.
Shairul Kabir Khan, a staff member of the BNP chairperson’s media wing, said the cases were filed as per decisions made by the party’s high command.
A number of people associated with the case filing with the election tribunal said Jhenaidah 4 candidate Saiful Islam Firoz and Tangail 7 candidate Abul Kalam Azad Siddique filed the cases on Tuesday.
Jahir Uddin Swapan from Barisal 1, Shah Riazul Hannan from Gazipur 4, Naser Rahman from Moulvibazar 3, Abdul Hai from Munshiganj, and Hafiz Ibrahim from Bhola 2 filed cases on Wednesday.
Sources said at least one defeated candidate of each district will gradually file a case with the tribunal.
Previously, on February 9, BNP decided to file cases from all 64 districts with the election tribunal of the High Court.
Although some of the BNP standing committee members were against filing the cases, BNP acting chairman Tarique Rahman did not take their reservations into cognizance.
The BNP and the Jatiya Oikya Front, an alliance of BNP and some other parties, rejected the polls results, alleging huge irregularities in the election.
The Awami League-led grand alliance secured 289 seats, while the Oikya Front got only eight seats.
The Oikya Front MP’s-elect are yet to take oath in parliament. – Staff Reporter
