Writ filed seeking cancellation of national referendum result

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court challenging the validity of the national referendum held on February 12 and seeking cancellation of the results announced on February 13.

The petition was submitted on Tuesday (February 17) to the relevant branch of the High Court Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh by Supreme Court lawyer A B M Ataul Majid Touhid in the public interest.

The Chief Election Commissioner, the Cabinet Secretary and the Law Secretary have been made respondents in the writ.

The petitioner argued that the process of holding the referendum and declaring the results requires judicial review in light of the Constitution and prevailing laws.

Touhid said the matter may be heard next week by a High Court bench led by Justice Fatema Najib.

In the February 12 referendum, the “Yes” vote in favour of change secured victory. Voter turnout stood at 60.26 percent nationwide. The “Yes” side received 48,074,429 votes, while the “No” side secured 22,565,627 votes.

The results were announced on February 13, triggering varied political reactions.

No date has yet been fixed for formal listing of the hearing.