By-election to the Chattogram-8 constituency – left vacant following the death of Awami League MP Moslem Uddin Ahmed – will be held on April 27, 2023. Election Commission (EC) Secretary Jahangir Alam announced the schedule of the by-election today. Read more: All parties should assist to conduct a participatory election: Hasan Mahmud According to the schedule, the last date for submitting nomination papers is March 27, while the date for scrutinising nomination papers is March 29, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 5. Voting will start at 8 am on April 27 and will continue till 4 pm. Moslem Uddin, a freedom fighter and also president of Chattogram South unit of Awami League, breathed his last at Evercare Hospital in Dhaka on February 6. He was 75. He was elected as an MP on January 13, 2020 – in the vacant seat following the death of former Chattogram-8 MP Moinuddin Khan Badal.

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said the average voter turnout in the by-election in six parliamentary seats may be 15 per cent to 20 percent. "The average voter turnout in the election may be 15 per cent to 20 percent. It is our assumption, but not final. Though the presence of the voters was low in the polling stations, discipline was maintained at the voting centres during by-election," he said. He made the remarks while talking to journalists after monitoring the by-polls at Election Commission Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon. He said the EC collected the updated information from the local administration and the media while monitoring the election. No breaking news was published. He also said they did not receive information of any remarkable irregularities or vote rigging so far. No untoward incident took place in today's by-elections. In that aspect, the election has been successful and peaceful”, said Habibul Awal. He also appreciated the role of district administration and police saying that they performed their duties with professionalism till now. "We have not received any complaints. We rely on the local administration as they extend their full support to make the election successful," he said. Voting began at 8:30 am and continued till 4:30 pm in the by-polls to the six parliamentary seats — left vacant due to resignation by BNP MPs as part of their anti-government movement. The six constituencies which went to poll are: Thakurgaon-3, Bogura-4 and 6, Chapainawabganj-2, 3 and Brahmanbaria-2. Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in the voting. However, no CCTV cameras were installed in the polling centres. Forty candidates competed in the 6 constituencies. In Chapainawabganj, a chase and counter-chase happened between supporters of two candidates at the District Ideal High School Centre around 9 am, witnesses said. A scuffle took place between the supporters of independent candidate Samiul Haque Liton and Awami League backed candidate Abdul Wadud at the polling station -- triggering a chase and counter-chase, said Additional Superintendent of Chapainawabganj Police, Abul Kalam Shaheed. However, police brought the situation under control. A crude bomb was seized from the spot. Voting in the by-election for Brahmanbaria-2 (Sarail-Ashuganj) constituency went on peacefully amid low voter turnout till filing of this report around noon. Abu Asif Ahmed, an expelled leader of BNP and an independent candidate, has remained missing since Friday. Also read: CEC says sorry for his rifle for sword remarks Some 1,100 police have been deployed at the polling stations while four platoons of BGB members, nine teams of RAB, nine mobile teams of police, and four striking teams were also performing their duties to maintain the law and order situation. The constituencies have a total of 22,55,217 voters eligible to cast ballots at 867 polling centers. Meanwhile, the government announced a public holiday on Wednesday in the election areas on the occasion of the by-elections. Earlier on December 10, 2022 at a public rally, parliamentarians of BNP announced their resignation from the JS. The next day, on December 11, Chapainawabganj-2 lawmaker Md Aminul Islam, Bogura-4 lawmaker Md. Mosharraf Hossain, Bogura-6 lawmaker Golam Mohammad Siraj, and Thakurgaon-3 lawmaker Zahidur Rahman resigned from the parliament. Two other BNP lawmakers — Advocate Abdus Sattar of Brahmanbaria-2 constituency and Harun-or-Rashid of Chapainawabganj-3 — resigned from the parliament later.  

The nomination papers of Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alam, who has collected papers for contesting the upcoming by-elections for Bogura-4 and Bogura-6 constituencies as independent candidate, were turned down by the Election Commission on Sunday. Deputy Commissioner Saiful Islam said the nomination papers of eleven candidates including Hero Alam were cancelled as the Election Commission found mismatched documents against their affidavits. If there is any objection, he/she can file an appeal against it, he said. Also Read: Accept Hero Alam’s nomination, HC orders EC When talking, Hero Alam said “I will file an appeal and if my nomination papers prove valid, I will contest for the two constituencies.” Hero Alam has collected nomination papers for contesting the upcoming by-election for Bogura-4 and Bogura-6 constituencies as an independent candidate. The Election Commission has announced the date of the by-election in the vacant post for February 1.  Hero Alam contested for Bogura-4 (Kahalu-Nandigram) constituency as an independent candidate in the 11th national election. He got 638 votes. Also Read: Bogura by-election: Hero Alam collects nomination On December 2, 2018, the nomination paper of much-talked-about independent candidate for Bagura-4 seats Ashraful Alam alias Hero Alam was turned down by the Election Commission as he could not properly submit the signatures of one percent voters of his constituency. Later, he filed an appeal petition challenging the Election Commission’s decision which was rejected by the Appellate Division. The Supreme Court declared his nomination legal. Hero Alam also failed to collect nomination paper from Jatiya Party for the by-elections.  

No irregularities have been reported yet at the polling stations during the Gaibandha by-election, said Election Commissioner Rashida Sultana. She said this while observing the election on CCTV cameras from the Election Commission office at Agargaon in the capital on Wednesday morning. Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: Festive mood as voting underway She also said that the voter turnout was low due to cold weather. "We can see the voting in the CCTV cameras. So far, there has been no problem at the polling centers," she said. EC IDEA Project DPD (Communications) Squadron Leader Shahriar Alam told reporters that the election is being monitored directly from Dhaka through a total of 1,242 CCTV cameras. The voting is being monitored by CC cameras from 8 am at the EC control room on the fifth floor of the Election Commission building.  Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC to take action against 133 officials Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal, Election Commissioners Ahsan Habib Khan, Md. Alamgir, Rashida Sultana and Anisur Rahman are monitoring the polls. 

Dhaka, Dec 29 ( UNB)- Actress Mahiya Mahi on Thursday expressed hope that she will win the by-election of Chapainawabganj-2 seat if she gets a boat ticket. Mahi made the comment to the journalists after collecting the nomination form from the Awami League president's political office in Dhanmondi on Thursday. She said she will win by at least 50,000 votes. "I cannot express how happy I am, how proud I am, I couldn't be happier," she also said.  Read more: Mahiya Mahi set for motherhood In response to the question of 'how hopeful she is about getting the nomination', Mahi said: "Our Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina herself is a woman, giving priority to women leadership. Metrorail's first driver was a woman. If you listen to Sheikh Hasina's various statements, you will understand how much she is prioritising women leadership. The future vision and determination to build a smart Bangladesh, I do not want to leave my Chapainawabganj behind from this development." A total of 53 nomination forms have been distributed at the end of the 2nd day today in the by-election of 6 constituencies of the Jatiya Sangsad.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Wednesday said that no inconsiderate decision will be taken about electoral irregularities in the suspended by- election of Gaibandha-5 constituency. The CEC told reporters in Dhaka that the commission will not take any decision on this as they are still examining the whole situation. Read more: Decision on Gaibandha-5 polls in 7 days: CEC Asked whether there will be a new voting in Gaibandha, he said, "I will not say anything now. You wait, wait a little." Read more: EC doing its job, not under any pressure: CEC The CEC had suspended the voting in the middle of the by-election due to widespread irregularities at 51 centres on October 12.  

Election Commissioner Begum Rashida Sultana on Tuesday said exemplary punishment will be meted out to those involved in the malpractices during last month's Gaibandha-5 by-election, describing it as an isolated case. She said this in response to a question from journalists at her office on Tuesday. She said that the Election Commission does not want to see a repeat of the irregularities that happened in the Gaibandha-5 by-election in the upcoming Rangpur City Corporation polls. Read more: Decision on Gaibandha-5 polls in 7 days: CEC "The incident of Gaibandha was an isolated case. That won't happen in Rangpur City Corporation. We are sending the message to Rangpur Returning Officer, Assistant Returning Officer and everyone that we do not want to see such an election,” she also said. When asked about the role of the local administration, Rasheda Sultana said, "We do not believe that the local administrations will not cooperate in the election as the environment in some elections including Faridpur-2 constituency and Zila Parishads was very good. The local administration supported us well.” Read more: Suspension of Gaibandha-5 by-polls was right, former commissioners tell EC Rasheda Sultana said that the investigation report of the irregularities in the voting of Gaibandha-5 constituency has been prepared. However, the commission has not yet discussed it. The probe committee formed to look into the Gaibandha-5 by-election, which the Election Commission (EC) postponed citing irregularities, submitted its report on October 27. Election Commission's Additional Secretary Ashok Kumar Debnath who headed the committee submitted the report to EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker. Read more: Gaibandha-5 by-polls: EC vows to take offending officials to task The EC suspended the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on October 12. It also extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, till January 20, 2023. Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022.

Voting in the by-polls to Faridpur-2 constituency began on Saturday morning. The voting began at 8am and will continue till 4pm. No untoward incident was reported till filling of this report, at 11:30am. Voting is undergoing at 123 centres in Nagarkanda, Saltha and Sadarpur upazilas of the constituency using Electronic Voting Machines (EVM), said senior district election officer Habibur Rahman. A total of 3,18,472 people are expected to cast their votes. As many as 1,052 CCTV cameras have been installed at polling centres ahead of the by-polls. Read: Voting at Cumilla City polls underway peacefully Rab, police, Ansar and BGB members have been deployed in the area to maintain law and order situation. Faridpur-2 constituency fell vacant following the death of senior Awami League leader Syeda Sajeda Chowdhury. Sajeda Chowdhury’s son Akbar Chowdhury Labu and Advocate Joynal Abedin Bakul Mia are vying for the seat.

The younger brother of Kushtia’s Khoksha upazila Chattra League president sustained bullet injuries in an attack by unknown assailants over a child-like election to a union parishad at the upazila on Tuesday night. The injured is Abdul Awal Kanak Khan, 25, younger brother of the upazila unit Chattra League President Shimul Ahmed Khan and son of Bakkar Khan of Malishia village under Joyantihazara union in the upazila. Read: College student killed in city clash Kanak sustained the bullet in his neck on his way to home at his village around 9pm leaving him critically injured. He was rushed to Kushtia General Hospital where he was undergoing treatment. Locals said a heated environment had been prevailing in the upazila over a By-election to a union parish between supporters of the AL-nominated candidate and rival individual for the past few days. President Shimul in a Facebook post from his personal account alleged that local lawmaker Barrister Selim Altaf George and the upazila unit AL President Babul Akter were behind the attack. Read more: Rohingya man killed in Teknaf ‘gunfight’ The lawmaker, however, denying the allegation claimed that he had no involvement with the attack and condemned it.   Read: Motorcyclist killed in Rajshahi road crash Syed Ashiqur Rahman, officer-in-charge of Khoksha police station, said though electoral campaign got stopped, infighting among supporters of the candidates were going on. An effort is on to nab the miscreants in this connection, he said.  

The Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, or till January 20, 2023. While there was no concrete decision over if a new election will be held, pending an investigation into malpractices on the election day, the Election Commission said that the deadline has been extended to follow the rule of 90 days in holding an election after a seat falls vacant. According to Section 123(4) of the Bangladesh constitution, if a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, it must be filled through election within 90 days. Read: Gaibandha-5 by-election cancelled over 'malpractices' The new deadline came in line with law as the EC said the incident at Gaibandha-5 was “unwanted, unimaginable and beyond control.” Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. But the EC cancelled the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on October 12.