Appellate Division halts reversion Over Cumilla-1, Cumilla-2 boundaries
Staff reporter:
The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court has stayed a High Court verdict that ordered the restoration of the previous electoral boundaries of the Cumilla-1 and Cumilla-2 parliamentary constituencies.
The stay order was issued on Sunday by the chamber court of the Appellate Division, led by Justice Md Rezaul Haque, after hearing separate petitions filed by the Election Commission (EC) and an independent candidate, according to court sources.
Legal experts said the stay means the upcoming national election will be conducted under the newly defined constituency boundaries.
The High Court had delivered its verdict on 8 January following the final hearing of a writ petition. In its ruling, the court declared parts of an EC gazette on constituency delimitation to be without lawful authority.
The gazette had redefined Cumilla-1 to include Daudkandi and Meghna upazilas instead of Daudkandi and Titas, and Cumilla-2 to include Homna and
Titas upazilas instead of Homna and Meghna.
The High Court directed the EC to restore the previous configuration—Cumilla-1 comprising Daudkandi and Titas, and Cumilla-2 comprising Homna and Meghna—and to publish a revised gazette within 24 hours.
Following the verdict, the EC and Cumilla-2 independent candidate AM Matin filed separate applications with the Appellate Division seeking a stay.
During Thursday’s hearing, Additional Attorney General Md Arshadur Rouf, acting as attorney general, along with senior lawyers Mustafizur Rahman Khan and Kamal Hossain Miah, represented the EC.
Senior lawyer Ehsan A Siddique appeared for the writ petitioners, while senior lawyers AM Mahbub Uddin Khokon and Abdullah Al Mamun represented the independent candidate.
Historically, during the 12th parliamentary election in 2024, Cumilla-1 consisted of Daudkandi and Titas upazilas, and Cumilla-2 comprised Homna and Meghna upazilas. Ahead of the 13th parliamentary election, the EC issued a gazette on 4 September last year, redefining the boundaries by placing Daudkandi and Meghna under Cumilla-1 and Homna and Titas under Cumilla-2.
The legality of this gazette was challenged by six individuals, including Homna upazila BNP President Mohammad Mohi Uddin, who filed a writ petition last year.
Following a preliminary hearing, the High Court issued a rule on 17 September 2025 and delivered its verdict on 8 January after disposing of the rule.
The Appellate Division’s stay now maintains the EC’s new delimitation for the upcoming elections, temporarily blocking the High Court’s order to revert to the previous constituency boundaries.