The High Court on Tuesday declared legal the nomination paper submitted by Md Mehedi Mahmud Reza, an independent candidate of Naogaon-2 constituency, where the election was postponed before the 12th national election on January 7 this year.
The court at the same time asked the Returning Officer to allot an electoral symbol to Mehedi Mahmud.
The High Court bench of Justice Abu Taher Md Saifur Rahman and Justice Md Bashir Ullah passed the order after hearing a writ petition filed by Mehedi Mahmud challenging the Election Commission decision that cancelled his nomination. Lawyer Jahangir Alam appeared in the court hearing on behalf of Mehedi Mahmud, while Deputy Attorney General S Masud Rumi represented the state.
The election for the Naogaon-2 seat was postponed on December 29 last year, nine days ahead of the national election held on January 7, after the death of another independent candidate Aminul Haque. The Election Commission on January 4 announced a new schedule for the election of the constituency. Voting will take place on February 12, according to the new schedule.
Lawyer Jahangir Alam said Mehedi Mahmud is the grandson of the deceased independent candidate Aminul Haque. He submitted his nomination paper on January 17. But due to complications related to the support of 1 per cent voters, the Returning Officer cancelled his nomination the following day.
