State Minister for Youth and Sports Aminul Haque has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the result of the Dhaka-16 constituency in the 13th National Parliamentary Election. The petition is expected to be heard by a single bench led by Justice Md Zakir Hossain. Haque, a former captain of the Bangladesh national football team and BNP candidate, lost to Jamaat-e-Islami’s Md Abdul Baten by a margin of 3,361 votes. Baten received 88,828 votes, while Haque secured 85,467.

Despite his defeat, Aminul Haque was appointed as a technocrat State Minister in the new BNP-led government. More than 15 other candidates have also filed similar petitions in the High Court challenging election results. The court has ordered the preservation of ballots and related materials for these constituencies.

Under Section 49 of the Representation of the People Order, the High Court forms an election tribunal to hear petitions alleging electoral irregularities. Justice Md Zakir Hossain’s bench is currently handling these election-related petitions as part of its civil jurisdiction.