The election for the Naogaon-2 (Patnitola and Dhamoirhat) constituency has been postponed following the death of an independent candidate died early Friday.
Ashok Kumar Debnath, additional secretary of the Election Commission (EC), on Friday announced the matter at a press conference hours after the death of independent candidate Aminul Haq.
He said a fresh schedule for the election for the constituency will be announced soon.
Aminul, a former Awami League leader, was undergoing treatment at a hospital in the capital. He got his electoral symbol on Thursday after a High Court directive restored his candidacy.
He was vying as an independent candidate after he failed to get the
AL ticket. However, his candidacy was cancelled on various issues.
Later, he submitted a petition to the HC challenging the EC's decision. A
hearing was held on Wednesday, and the High Court issued a directive
restoring his candidacy, asking the EC to allocate him an electoral
symbol.
Aminul Haq was elected mayor of Nazipur municipality under
Patnitola upazila of Naogaon district. He was also a former forest and
environment secretary of Naogaon district Awami League. Besides, he was
made general secretary of the party's Patnitola upazila unit several
times from 1986 to 2006. He was survived by one son.
As per the provisions of Article 91A and Article 91E of the Representation of the People Order, 1972, the election proceedings of a constituency must be cancelled if any valid candidate vying for the upcoming 12th parliamentary election dies, the EC directed on December 3.
However, a public notification will have to be made in accordance with Clause (1) of Article 17, said the directive.
EM
