Appeal filed with Appellate Division seeking stay on presidential election

Lawyer Md Yunus Ali Akond has filed an appeal with the Appellate Division after the High Court rejected a writ petition challenging the validity of Article 70 of the Constitution and seeking a stay on the presidential election schedule. He himself confirmed the matter on Wednesday (August 19).

Earlier on Tuesday, a High Court bench comprising Justice Khizir Ahmed Choudhury and Justice A F M Saiful Karim dismissed the writ petition. The petition had been filed on August 13, challenging the constitutional validity of Article 70 and seeking a directive to stay the presidential election schedule.

Confirming the move to the Appellate Division, lawyer Yunus Ali Akond said he had filed the appeal against the High Court order. He raised objections regarding the validity of Article 70 of the Constitution and the constitutional aspects of the presidential election process in connection with it.

Meanwhile, according to the schedule announced by the Election Commission, voting for the country's 23rd presidential election is set to take place tomorrow, Thursday (August 20). Voting will be held from 2pm to 5pm in the Jatiya Sangsad chamber .

This is the first time since 1991 that multiple candidates are contesting the presidential election. As a result, the next president of the country is set to be elected through a vote. Earlier, at various times, only single candidates were in the race, making voting unnecessary. The ruling BNP's nominated candidate is party Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir , while the 11-party alliance candidate is Oli Ahmed . All eyes are now on whether the Appellate Division's decision on the appeal will have any impact on the presidential election process.