Bogura-6, Sherpur-3 polls on April 9, EC confirms

EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed declared the schedule at a press briefing in the city's Nirbachan Bhaban.

According to the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is March 02, while the scrutiny date of the nomination papers is March 05 and the last date for withdrawal of candidates is March 14.

Earlier on Sunday, Election Commissioner Rahmanel Masud said the Election Commission will hold by-elections to two parliamentary seats -- Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3-- by April 14 next.

Masud said the Commission is trying to complete the elections ahead of Pahela Baishakh as the rainy season and storms are common after that period. “We hope we will be able to do it before that.”

Replying to a question about postal ballots, the commissioner said postal voting will remain in place for the by-election as well.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman contested the February-12 general election from two parliamentary constituencies – Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 and he was elected from the two seats. But Tarique Rahman has left Bogura-6 seat for by-election and took oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency. 

Besides, the EC on February 04 last cancelled the election to Sherpur-3 constituency, following the death of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nuruzzaman Badal.

The elections to 299 out of the country’s 300 constituencies (except Sherpur-3) were held on February 12.

The EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates on February 12, keeping the election result of Chattogram-2 and 4 constituencies withheld in line with the court’s decisions.

On Tuesday, 296 newly elected MPs took oath as Tarique Rahman who was elected from two constituencies left Bogura-6 for by-election.

The 296 newly MPs include 208 BNP ones, 68 Jamaat MPs, seven independent MPs and six NCP MPs, two Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis MPs, one MP each of Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Ganaodhikar Parishad, Ganasamhati Andolan, Khelafat Majlish and Islami Andolan Bangladesh, reports UNB.