The district administration has barred outsiders from staying in Thakurgaon-1 constituency from 8:00am on October 27 to 4:00pm on October 30 to ensure a peaceful and impartial by-election scheduled for October 29.

The restriction was announced in a public notice signed by Deputy Commissioner and District Magistrate Mohammad Rafiqul Huq on Sunday.

People who are neither residents nor registered voters of the constituency will not be allowed to stay in the area during the specified period.

However, election officials, people authorised by the Election Commission, and residents and registered voters of the constituency will be exempt from the restriction.

The notice warned that legal action would be taken against anyone violating the directive.

Election campaigning is scheduled to end at 8:00am on Tuesday (October 27), while preparations for the by-election have been completed.

Speaking about the restriction, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rafiqul Huq said the move aimed to ensure that voters could go to polling stations and cast their votes without fear or intimidation.

The by-election will be held in the constituency, which covers Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli.

It comprises 22 unions and one municipality across Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli upazilas.

Earlier, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said the upcoming Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary by-election will be held in a praiseworthy manner, like the February-12 national election.

“Insha'Allah, I can guarantee that just as we conducted the 13th parliamentary election— which earned acclamation both at home and abroad— you will similarly appreciate the way this one (by-election) is held,” he said. 

The Thakurgaon-1 seat fell vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir was elected president.

Five candidates are contesting the by-election: Mirza Faisal Amin of the BNP; Delwar Hossain, representing Jamaat-e-Islami and like-minded parties; Md Khademul Islam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh; Md Abdul Alim Nizami of Bangladesh Khilafat Andolan; and Hussain Muhammad Omar Faruk of Bangladesh Congress.