Writ seeks deferment of Dhaka city polls as election day coincides with Saraswati puja

A writ petition has been filed with the High Court seeking deferment of the two city polls of Dhaka because the country's Hindu community will celebrate Saraswati puja on the election day.

The Election Commission has set January 30 for the election to the Dhaka North City Corporation and Dhaka South City Corporation.

Supreme Court lawyer Ashoke Kumar Ghosh filed the writ on January 5. The High Court may hold a hearing on the writ petition this week, he told reporters.

Ashoke said the writ has been filed asking the court to direct the authorities concerned to reset the polls date anytime in the first week of February.

On January 30, different schools, colleges and universities in Dhaka, as elsewhere in the country, will celebrate Saraswati puja – a prayer ritual by Hindus to their goddess Saraswati. As these institutions have been set as polling centres, it would hamper religious activities, Ashoke added. 

The Chief Election Commissioner, among others, has been made a respondent in the writ petition.