Sylhet, Jan 19 (V7N) — The High Court on Monday ordered a four-week postponement of the central student union and hall parliament elections of Shahjalal University of Science and Technology (SUST) in Sylhet. The decision was issued by a bench comprising Justice Fahmida Quader and Justice Md. Asif Hasan.

The court also noted that there would be no legal obstacle to holding the SUST elections if they are conducted after the national parliamentary elections.

The decision followed a writ petition filed on Sunday (January 18) by independent candidate Mominur Rashid Shuvo, seeking to postpone the elections scheduled for January 20. The petition argued that the Election Commission has issued instructions to halt all types of elections prior to the national elections, making it illegal to hold the SUST student union and hall parliament elections at this time.

During the hearing, Advocate Mohammad Hossain Lipu represented the university, while Additional Attorney General Anik R. Haque appeared for the state. The petitioner’s lawyers also argued that conducting the student union elections before the national elections would require the involvement of law enforcement agencies, potentially affecting the national election process.

The SUST elections, which were to take place after a 28-year hiatus, were originally scheduled to begin at 9 am on Tuesday (January 20). The High Court’s ruling now defers them by four weeks.

END/SMA/AJ