Election Commissioner Md. Alamgir on Monday said the Election Commission (EC) is not using CC cameras in the by-elections of the vacant five parliamentary seats left by BNP MPs' resignations due to lack of budget. He said this in his office at the election building to the reporters. "There is no budget for installing CCTV cameras in this election. Installation of CC cameras is not possible with Annual Development Programme(ADP) allocation. ADP money can be spent on projects. For CC cameras, money has to be allocated from the revenue sector," he said. Saying 'CC cameras are not a solution' Commissioner Alamgir said the Election Commission (EC) does not see any need for this device. Many elections did not have CCTV cameras, yet no incidents occurred. Read more: By-elections to 5 vacant seats of BNP MPs on Feb 1, 2023 "Polls for five seats will be competitive. It will have balance. As a result, there will be no need for CC cameras," he added. The commissioner also said that the commission can meet and take a decision if necessary to use it as there is plenty of time for selection. By-elections to the five parliamentary seats, left vacant after BNP MPs resigned, will be held on February 1, 2023. EC will conduct the by-polls to parliamentary seats -- Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2. The EC secretary said candidates can submit their nomination papers till January 5. Returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on January 8 and January 15 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament. The MPs who resigned were: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2; and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats. Read more: Democratic practice won't develop without electoral competition: CEC Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit their resignations to the Speaker in person. The seven MPs sent their resignations through email on the same day. The Parliament Secretariat published a gazette notification announcing the parliamentary seats as vacant after their resignation.

By-elections to the five parliamentary seats, left vacant after BNP MPs resigned, will be held on February 1, 2023. The Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule of the by-elections on Sunday after a meeting.  Read more: BNP MPs’ vacant seats: EC to announce schedule of by-polls Nov 18 The election schedule was finalised at a meeting of the EC with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair. EC will conduct the by-polls to parliamentary seats -- Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4, Bogura-6, Chapainawabganj-2 and Brahmanbaria-2. The EC secretary said candidates can submit their nomination papers till January 5. Returning officers will scrutinize the nomination papers on January 8 and January 15 has been set as the last date for withdrawal of candidature. On December 11, five out of seven BNP members of the parliament (MPs) submitted their resignation to Speaker of Parliament Dr Shirin Sharmin Chaudhury, as part of their anti-government movement with a 10-point demand that includes dissolution of parliament. Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC to take action against 133 officials The MPs who resigned were: Md. Zahidur Rahman, Thakurgaon-3; Md. Mosharof Hosen, Bogura-4; Gulam Mohammad Siraj, Bogura-6; Md. Aminul Islam, Chapainawabganj-2; and Rumeen Farhana, from women’s reserved seats. Md. Harunur Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3, who is now in Australia and the ailing MP of Brahmanbaria-2 Abdus Sattar Bhuiyan could not submit their resignations to the Speaker in person. The seven MPs sent their resignations through email on the same day. The Parliament Secretariat published a gazette notification announcing the parliamentary seats as vacant after their resignation.

A total of 94 aspirants collected nomination papers from the ruling Awami League to try their luck in three upcoming by-elections : Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5, the party said on Thursday. The Awami League said 34 nominations have been sold for Dhaka-14, 25 for Sylhet-3 and 35 for Cumilla-5 until the sale closed at 5 pm Thursday. The by-polls in these constituencies are scheduled for July 28. The would-be candidates collected forms from Awami League’s President Sheikh Hasia's political office in Dhmonadhi maintaining Covid-19 health protocol, said the party. The aspirants already have started campaigning through the posters, offline and online in their respective area alongside lobbying with the senior leaders. The seats became vacant due to the death of members of parliament. Among them, Sylhet-3 MP Mahmud Us Samad died on March 11, Dhaka-14 MP Aslamul Haque on April 4 and Comilla-5 MP Abdul Matin Khasru on April 14. Voting in these constituencies could not be held within 90 days of the vacancy. So, the polls would take place in the subsequent 90 days, the Election Commission said.

A total of forty aspirants for the Awami League candidacy in the upcoming Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5 by-elections collected the nomination papers in the first two days. Awami League sources told UNB that eleven, nine and twenty aspirants collected the papers for Dhaka-14, Sylhet-3 and Cumilla-5 respectively. The ruling party started the sale of nomination forms on Friday (June 4) and it will continue till June 10. Also read: Fifth phase municipality polls: AL nomination board sits Saturday Aspirants will be able to collect and submit their forms from 11am to 5pm from party president Sheikh Hasia's political office in Dhanmondi.

Elections or by-elections to nearly 100 local bodies –- Zila Parishads, Upazila parishads, municipalities and Union Parishads—will be held in different districts of the country on Thursday. 

BNP on Friday announced a two-day demonstration programme demanding the cancellation of the results of by-elections to Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 constituencies, and protesting the arrest of its leaders and activists in ‘false’ cases.

By-elections to two parliamentary constituencies -- Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj- will be held on Thursday with participation of two major parties Awami League and BNP.

Turning down the results of local body elections held on Tuesday at different parts of the country, BNP on Wednesday demanded reelections, bringing various allegations of ‘vote fraud’.

Elections and by-elections to more than 200 local bodies -- Zila Parishad, Upazila Parishad and Union Parishad — will be held on Tuesday.

Bank branches will remain closed on Tuesday in parts of the country where elections and by-elections to different upazila and union councils will be held on the day, said a Bangladesh Bank circular.