HC stays by-polls to DNCC

The High Court has stayed the by-election to Dhaka North City Corporation scheduled for February 26, that will be held to fill the seat of deceased mayor Annisul Huq.

Moved by two separate writ petitions, the bench of Justice Naima Haider and Justice Zafar Ahmed stayed the by-polls for three months and issued a rule seeking explanation why the by-election process should not be declared illegal.

READ MORE: Details about the writ petitions

Jahangir Alom, chairman of Beraid union parishad, and Ataur Rahman, chairman of Bhatara union parishad, filed the two petitions, challenging the legality of the schedule of the polls to the posts of the mayor and the councillors of 18 new wards under the city corporation.

The stay comes at a time when the Awami League and the BNP have already picked their mayor candidates -- Atiqul Islam and Tabith Awal respectively -- for the by-elections scheduled for February 26. Possible candidates from other parties have already started wooing voters.