The bench of justices A H M Shamsuddin Chowdhury and Jahangir Hossain issued the order upon a writ petition filed by lawyer Manzill Murshid for the Human Rights and Peace for Bangladesh, a rights organisation.

The court also asked the Election Commission (EC) why it would not be told to stage the polls only after completing all the legal formalities regarding demarcation of bifurcated city corporations.

The chief election commissioner, EC secretary, two returning officers of both South and North Dhaka city corporations and their two administrators have been asked to reply within two weeks.

The order on the appeal came within a week of the EC announcing polls schedule for the polls. According to the plan, the elections would be held on May 24.