Voting in the by-election for Gaibandha-5 constituency, which was suspended due to irregularities, is underway with participation of voters in a festive mood. Voting started at 8 am and will continue till 4:30 pm. No untoward incident was reported till the filing of this report around 10 am. People were seen standing in long queues since morning, ignoring the cold. The presence of female voters is comparatively higher than their male counterparts. A total of 3,39,743 people are expected to exercise their franchise in 145 polling centres. Of them, 1,70,160 are females and 1,69,583 are male. District Election Officer and Returning officer Abdul Motaleb said that of the 145 polling centres, 72 are consider "important" while 32 are counted as "most important". Read: EC has 'no legal obligation' to bring parties to election All preparations have been taken to hold a smooth, free and fair election, he said. Elections will be monitored through CCTV cameras as done before. Rab, police, BGB and Ansar members will remain deployed to hold the election peacefully, said Motaleb. The candidates of the Gaibandha-5 by-election are: Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Jatiya Party candidate AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju, Bikalpa Dhara candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam and independent candidate Syed Mahbubur Rahman. The constituency consists of Saghata and Phulchhari upazilas. On October 12 last year, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the by-election due to “rampant irregularities” on the election day and later the commission fixed January 4 for holding the polls. 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. Accordingly it was scheduled for October 12. A three-member committee was formed to look into the election irregularities on October 12 last year. Following the recommendations of the committee, the Election Commission took punitive actions against 133 officials including an additional deputy commissioner, five sub-inspectors and returning officer of the election. Read More: EC to delve into slow voting complaint in Rangpur City Corporation Polls

The second phase election to 60 municipalities will be held on Saturday with participation of two major political parties – Bangladesh Awami League and BNP – in the most of the election areas.

The dawn-to-dusk hartal (shutdown), enforced by BNP in the capital today (Sunday) in protest against ‘vote frauds’ in Saturday’s Dhaka city elections, ended peacefully with lukewarm public response.

The elections to two Dhaka city elections, held on Saturday fully with Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), drew mixed reactions from voters, candidates and the authorities concerned.

Describing the electronic voting machine (EVM) as a new method of rigging votes, Jatiya Oikyafront on Saturday warned that it will not allow the Election Commission (EC) to use it in the elections to two Dhaka city corporations.

The by-election to Chattogram-8 constituency which fell vacant following the death of Moin Uddin Khan Badal will be held on Monday.

Amid a fresh political debate over the use of electronic voting machine (EVM) in the upcoming two city polls, election experts said fair polls are possible with the machine if a congenial atmosphere can be created.

Expressing hope that the upcoming elections will be fair and held peacefully, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda on Saturday said electronic voting machines or EVMs will be used in polls to the two Dhaka City Corporations.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda on Wednesday said they will not use Electronic Voting Machines or EVMs in polls to the two Dhaka city corporations if everybody wants.