Dhaka: The Election Commission announced a new election schedule for the Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 constituencies, with polls set for February 12, following an order from the Appellate Division. This decision comes after the previous schedule, announced on December 11, was canceled per a court order.

According to United News of Bangladesh, the new schedule sets January 18 as the deadline for submission of nomination papers, with scrutiny on January 19. Candidates can withdraw their nominations by January 26. Appeals regarding the acceptance or cancellation of nomination papers can be submitted from January 20 to 24, with hearings and decisions on these appeals scheduled for January 25. Symbols for candidates will be allocated on January 27.

Voting will take place from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm on February 12, coinciding with elections in the country’s remaining 298 constituencies and a national referendum. The Election Commission had previously suspended elections in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 due to a court order related to a
dispute over the demarcation of the constituencies.

An EC circular, issued on January 6 and made public on January 10, suspended elections in these constituencies following an order from the Appellate Division dated January 5. The suspension was due to a dispute over the demarcation of national parliamentary constituencies No 68 (Pabna-1) and No 69 (Pabna-2).

On January 15, the Appellate Division allowed elections to proceed in Pabna-1 and Pabna-2 on February 12, using the boundaries specified in the Election Commission’s September 4 gazette. An Appellate Division bench led by Chief Justice Zubayer Rahman Chowdhury issued the order, designating Sathia upazila as Pabna-1 and Sujanagar and Bera upazilas as Pabna-2.