EC sets date for voting in by-polls to 3 seats

The Election Commission has announced the dates for voting in the by-polls to Dhaka 5, Pabna 4, and Naogaon 6 parliamentary constituencies.

Voting for by-polls in Dhaka and Naogaon have been set for October 17 while in Pabna on September 26, EC Secretary Md Alamgir told the media on Sunday following a meeting of the Commission.

The complete schedule for the by-polls to Dhaka 5 and Naogaon 6 would be declared in due time, Bangla Tribune quoted the senior EC official .

Candidates will not be allowed to hold rallies or carry out door-to-door campaigns due to coronavirus pandemic, he added.

The last date for submission of nomination forms for Pabna-4 constituency is September 2 and the forms will be scrutinized on September 3. Appeals have to be submitted from September 4-6 and they will be resolved on September 7.

The last date for withdrawal of nominations for Pabna-4 constituency is September 8.

The commission also postponed the by-elections to Dhaka 18 for 90 days due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

Besides, earlier, it decided to postpone the by-polls to Sirajganj 1 constituency for 90 days for the same reason.

On April 2, the Pabna 4 seat fell vacant due to the death of Awami League lawmaker Shamsur Rahman Sherif. 

Dhaka 5 constituency fell vacant following the death of Awami League lawmaker Habibur Rahman Mollah on May 6 and the Naogaon after the death of the ruling MP Md Israfil Alam on July 27.

Dhaka 18 fell vacant following the death of Awami League lawmaker and former home minister Shahara Khatun on July 9 and Sirajganj 1 fell vacant following the death of Mohammed Nasim, Awami League MP and former health minister on June 13.