Election Commission Secretary Md Humayun Kabir Khandaker announced the schedules at Nirbachan Bhaban after an EC meeting.

The Laxmipur-2 constituency (Parliamentary Seat No-275) fell vacant on January 28 last after independent MP Mohammad Shahid Islam alias Kazi Papul was sentenced by a Kuwait court for criminal offences involving moral turpitude.

According to the election schedules, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is March 18, while the date for scrutiny of the nomination paper is March 19 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is March 24.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) will be used in the Laxmipur-2 constituency, 11 municipalities and 30 Union Parishads’ polls, while traditional ballot papers in the remaining local body elections.

The Regional Election Officer, Cumilla will act as the returning officer of the Laxmipur-2 by-polls.

According to a recent gazette issued by the Parliament Secretariat, Papul became ineligible to remain an MP under the Article 66 (1) of the Constitution as he was sentenced by a Kuwaiti criminal court to four years’ rigorous imprisonment.

Papul is currently in a Kuwait jail after he was arrested there in June last on charges of human trafficking, residency visa trading and money laundering.

With the 371 UPs, the EC is going to arrange the first phase of the countrywide Union Parishad election.

Meanwhile, the EC has already arranged elections to some 230 municipalities in five phases in between December 28 and February 28 last.

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