SC orders to reinstate 4 seats in Bagerhat

The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has rejected the government’s leave to appeal against the High Court ruling that declared the Election Commission’s gazette reducing Bagerhat’s four parliamentary seats to three illegal.

As a result, all four seats in Bagerhat have been reinstated, according to legal sources.

A five-judge bench, led by Chief Justice Dr. Syed Refat Ahmed, passed the order on Wednesday (December 10).

Senior Advocate Md. Asaduzzaman represented the petitioners, while Senior Advocate Sheikh Mohammad Zakir Hossain appeared for the Election Commission.

Ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election, the Election Commission had initially proposed on July 3 to reduce Bagerhat’s four seats to three. The proposal sparked protests from various political parties, who formed an all-party committee and staged strikes, blockades, and other demonstrations demanding the restoration of all four seats.

Despite the protests, the Election Commission issued the final gazette on September 4, implementing the reduction to three seats with minor boundary adjustments. The all-party committee continued to protest, claiming the reorganisation ignored the demands of the people.