The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has upheld the High Court’s verdict that declared the Election Commission’s gazette, which reduced Bagerhat’s four seats to three, illegal.
A five-member Appellate Division bench, led by Chief Adviser Dr Syed Refaat Ahmed, passed the order.
On November 10, the High Court declared the EC's gazette notification illegal and directed that the constituencies in the district be restored to their previous numbers.
The EC had issued the gazette on September 4, reducing Bagerhat's four constituencies to three.
Two separate petitions were later filed with the High Court challenging the EC notification.
Since 1969, elections have been held in four parliamentary constituencies in Bagerhat. Accordingly, Bagerhat-1 comprised Chitalmari-Mollahat-Fakirhat; Bagerhat-2 comprised Bagerhat Sadar-Kachua; Bagerhat-3 comprised Rampal-Mongla; and Bagerhat-4 comprised Morelganj-Sarankhola.
Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary elections, on July 30, the Election Commission initially proposed reducing Bagerhat’s four constituencies to three. Various political parties rejected the proposal and launched protests. They formed an all-party combined committee and staged different programmes, including strikes and blockades.