By-polls to Dhaka-17 constituency has been started from 8 am in the morning on Monday. At the same time, 78 different local government elections will be held in different places in the country. Voting will be ended at 4pm in 124 polling stations in Dhaka-17 without any break. Election materials have been reached by yesterday afternoon. Dhaka-17 consistency encompasses Gulshan-Banani, Bhashantek thanas and cantonment areas. A total of 3,25,205 people are eligible voters. Of them, the number of women voters is 1,53,580. Eight persons are contesting the elections.   Ruling Awami League's candidate is Mohammad Ali Arafat, Shikder Anisur Rahman of Jatiya Party, Kazi Md Rashidul Hasan of Jaker Party, Sheikh Habibur Rahman of Trinomool BNP, Md Rezaul Islam Swapan of Bangladesh Congress and Md Akbar Hossain of Bangladesh Sangskritik Mukti Jote. Independent candidates are Md Ashraful Alam (Hero Alam) and Md Tariqul Islam. Dhaka-17 seat fell vacant since the death of actor Akbar Hossain Pathan, member of parliament from the constituency on May 15. Campaigning in the constituency has been stopped in Saturday morning while the EC has banned movement of motorcycles in constituency since Saturday midnight. A ban has also been imposed on movement of trucks, minibuses, microbuses, jeeps, pickup vans, cars and easy-bikes. But highways will remain out of the purview of the ban. Besides, elections is also started to 66 union parishads (UPs). Source:BSS

Awami League candidate Mohammad Habib Hasan was unofficially elected in Dhaka-18 by-polls held with the use of EVMs amid a low turnout on Thursday. Habib won the election beating his nearest rival BNP contender SM Jahangir Hossain by a huge margin of over 70,000 votes. Habib secured 75,820 votes, while Jahangir bagged only 5,369 votes, according to the unofficial election result announced by Returning Officer ZM Sahatab Uddin. Besides, Jatiya Party contestant Md Nasir Uddin Sarkat got only 325 votes, Gano Front’s Kazi Md Shahidullah got 126 votes, Bangladesh Congress’s Md Umar Faruk obtained 91 votes and PDP’s Md Mohibullah Bahar secured 87 votes. The voter turnout was only 14.18 percent as 81,818 out of total 5,77,116 votes were cast at 217 polling stations in the parliamentary seat comprising the 14 wards and airport area under Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC). The DNCC wards are 1, 17 and 43-54 located in Uttara and Cantonment and Gulshan Thana. Dhaka-18 constituency fell vacant after the death of former home minister and Awami League MP Sahara Khatun on July 9. Source: UNB AH

The by-elections to two parliamentary constituencies – Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 will be held tomorrow from 9 am to 5 pm. The Election Commission (EC) has already completed all the preparations for holding the polls in a fair and peaceful environment. Eight candidates from six political parties including Awami League and BNP are contesting in these two seats. Candidates from the three main political parties – Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party are taking part in the by-polls in Dhaka-18 constituency, while only Awami League and BNP candidates are contesting in Sirajganj-1 constituency. The Ministry of Public Administration has decided to close only election-related institutions on the day of polling in these two constituencies. All other offices will remain open. Movement of some public transports has been banned from today midnight to tomorrow midnight. Motorcycles will not be allowed to ply from midnight on Tuesday to midnight on Friday. Subject to the permission of the Election Commission, some vehicles will be allowed to move. In order to maintain law and order, additional magistrates and law enforcement personnel have been serving in the two constituencies. Dhaka-18 constituency fell vacant following the death of Awami League lawmaker Advocate Sahara Khatun while Sirajganj-1 constituency fell vacant following the death of ruling party MP, Mohammad Nasim. According to EC sources, the Dhaka-18 constituency consists of wards no. 1, 17, and 43 to 54 of Dhaka North City and the airport area. The total number of polling stations is 217 and the number of polling booths is 1,353. The total number of voters is 5 lakh 77 thousand 188. Among them, 2, 96, 135 voters are male and 2, 81,053 are female. A total of six candidates are contesting in Dhaka-18 constituency. Candidates contesting in Dhaka-18 by-polls are – Awami League (AL) backed Mohammad Habib Hasan, BNP nominated SM Jahangir Hossain, Jatiya Party nominated Mohammad Nasir Uddin Sarkar, Mohammad Omar Faruque of Bangladesh Congress, Kazi Mohammad Shahidullah of Gonofront and Mohammad Mahibbullah Bahar of PDP. Sirajganj-1 constituency consists of Kazipur, part of Sadar and of one municipality. Candidates contesting in Sirajganj-1 are- Awami League backed Tanvir Shakil Joy and BNP nominated Selim Reza. The total number of voters in this constituency is 3 lakh 45 thousand 603. Of these, 1, 71, 641 are male voters and 1, 73, 962 are female voters. There are 168 voting centers in this constituency. Source: BSS AH

Voting in the by-elections to  Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 constituencies is underway on Saturday through electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers. Two major political parties --Bangladesh Awami League and BNP  are participating  in the by-polls. The voting in  the by-polls started around 9:00am and will continue till 5:00pm without any break. In the Dhaka-5 constituency, six MP candidates, including Md Kazi Monirul Islam nominated by AL and Salauddin Ahmed nominated by BNP are there in the electoral race. The four other contenders are Mir Abdus Sabir of Jatiya Party, HM Ibrahim Bhuiyan of Gano Front, Md Arifur Rahman of NPP and Md Ansar Hossain Sikdar of Bangladesh Congress  A total of 4,71,129 voters –-2,41,464 men and 229665 women – are expected to exercise their voting rights  under 187 polling stations in the parliamentary seat comprised of 14 wards ( 48-50, 60-70) of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Demra and Motijheel police stations. In the Naogaon-6 Constituency, three MP contenders –Md Anwar Hossain (Helal) of AL, Sheikh Md Rezaul Islam of BNP and Md Khandkar Intekhab Alam of NPP—are there in the polls race. A total of 3,06,725 voters –1,53,758 men and 1,52,967 women – are expected to vote under 104 polling stations in the constituency comprising Raninagar and Atrai upazilas. The Dhaka-5 fell vacant following the death of Awami League MP Habibur Rahman Mollah on May 6 while that of Nagaon-6 following the demise of AL MP Israfil Alam on July 27. On September 03 last, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the two parliamentary constituencies. Source: UNB AH

Two parliamentary constituencies – Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 – are going to by-polls on Saturday with the participation of two major political parties --Bangladesh Awami League and BNP. The elections will be held from 9:00am to 5:00pm without any break through electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers. In the Dhaka-5 constituency, six MP candidates, including Md Kazi Monirul Islam nominated by AL and Salauddin Ahmed nominated by BNP are there in the electoral race.  The four other contenders are Mir Abdus Sabir of Jatiya Party, HM Ibrahim Bhuiyan of Gano Front, Md Arifur Rahman of NPP and Md Ansar Hossain Sikdar of Bangladesh Congress    A total of 4,71,129 voters –-2,41,464 men and 229665 women – are expected to exercise their voting rights  under 187 polling stations in the parliamentary seat comprised of 14 wards ( 48-50, 60-70) of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Demra and Motijheel police stations. In the Naogaon-6 Constituency, three MP contenders –Md Anwar Hossain (Helal) of AL, Sheikh Md Rezaul Islam of BNP and Md Khandkar Intekhab Alam of NPP—are there in the polls race. A total of 3,06,725 voters –1,53,758 men and 1,52,967 women – are expected to vote under 104 polling stations in the constituency comprised of Raninagar and Atrai upazilas. The Dhaka-5 fell vacant following the death of Awami League MP Habibur Rahman Mollah on May 6 while that of Nagaon-6 following the demise of AL MP Israfil Alam on July 27. On September 03 last, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the two parliamentary constituencies. Source: UNB AH

BNP on Sunday picked Salahuddin Ahmed and Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Islam as its candidates to contest the Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 by-elections respectively billed for October 17. A day after BNP’s nomination board or party standing committee took virtual interviews of the party aspirants, BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir announced the names of the candidates of “Sheaf of Paddy’ for the two by-polls. “Our party nominated Salahuddin Ahmed for Dhaka-5 by polls while Sheikh Mohammad Rezaul Islam for Naogaon-6,” Fakhrul told UNB.     BNP chairperson’s media wing member Sayrul Kabir Khan said Salahuddin is the commerce affairs secretary of BNP and a three-time former MP while Rezaul is the party’s Naogaon unit convening committee member. On Saturday night, he said, BNP’s nomination board took interviews of 28 aspirants for contesting the upcoming by polls to Dhaka-5, Dhaka-18, Naogaon-6 and Sirajganj-1 constituencies. Of them, 15 aspirants, including six for Dhaka-5 and nine for Naogaon-6, faced the interviews. The party, however, did not disclose the names of its nominated candidates for Dhaka-18 and Sirajganj-1 by-polls since the Election Commission did not yet announce the schedule. As per the schedule announced by the Election Commission, the by-polls to Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 will be held on October 17 next. The Dhaka-5, Dhaka-18, Naogaon-6 and Sirajganj-1 seats fell vacant following the death of Awami League MPs Habibur Rahman Molla, Sahara Khatun, Israfil Alam and Mohammad Nasim respectively. On September 7, Awami League picked Monirul Islam Monu for Dhaka-5 and Mohammad Anawar Hossain Helal for Naogaon-6 as its candidates. On Saturday, Jatiya Party also nominated its presidium member Mir Abdus Sabur Asud and its Raninagar upazila unit president Kazi Golam Kabir as the candidates of ‘Plough’ in the Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 by-elections respectively. Source: UNB AH

By-elections to two parliamentary constituencies – Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6-- will be held on October 17 next, according to a schedule declared by the Election Commission on Thursday. As per the schedules, the deadline for the submission of nomination papers is September 17, while the date for the scrutiny of nomination papers is September 20 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is September 27. EC’s senior secretary Md Alamgir announced the by-polls schedule for the two constituencies at a press conference at Nirbachan Bhaban in the city in the afternoon. The by-elections will be held from 9:00am to 5:00pm through electronic voting machines (EVMs) instead of traditional ballot papers. The Dhaka regional election officer and Naogaon district election officer will act as returning officers for Dhaka-5 and Noagaon-6 by-polls respectively. The Dhaka-5 fell vacant following the death of Awami League MP Habibur Rahman Mollah on May 6 while that of Nagaon-6 following the demise of AL MP Israfil Alam on July 27. The Commission has the legal obligation to arrange a parliamentary by-election within 90 days after the constituency concerned falls vacant. Source: UNB AH

The recent outgoing DUCSU Vice President (VP) Nurul Haque Nur is going to vie for the Dhaka-18 parliamentary by election. He claimed that local BNP and Awami League leaders have inspired him to fight the election. In this seat the last Member of Parliament (MP) was Awami League presidium member Sahara Khatun. She died on July 9 and the later the seat was declared vacant. After that the AL and BNP leaders have begun their activities. Nurul Haque Nur said, we can pay a major role in the political arena centering the election. As I lived in Uttara, so many suggested that they will be with me if I run in the Dhaka-18 by election. Nur said, I will not participate in the election for any political party or alliance. But many from AL and BNP promised me to remain for me in the voting field. I am very optimistic about the election. Awami League and BNP are two major parties. They remained in power for more than one time and still remaining. They have lakhs and crores of supporters. But I will not fight in the election in favor of any of the parties, he added. AH   

The Election Commission has suspended the upcoming elections to Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) and the by-polls to Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 Jatiya Sangsad seats in view of the coronavirus outbreak. The by-polls were scheduled to be held on March 29 in Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 JS seats along with CCC. The decision was taken at a meeting of the EC held Saturday at the Nirbachon Bhaban with Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda in the chair. Later, EC Secretary Md Alamgir announced his decision to suspend all three elections at a news briefing in the capital on Saturday. “The EC will convey its next decision about the elections when the coronavirus situation improves,” he added. Source: BSS AH

Awami League on Saturday picked Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, joint general secretary of Chattogram city unit of the party, to contest the Chittagong City Corporation (CCC) mayoral election. The ruling party also nominated former President of the Federation of Bangladesh Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FBCCI) Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) for the by-polls to Dhaka-10 constituency. Besides, Umme Kulsum Smrity has been chosen for Gaibandh-3 by-election while Shahin Chakladar for Jashore-6, Amirul Islam Milon for Bagerhat-4 and Sahadara Mannan for Bogura-1 by-polls. The decisions were taken at a joint meeting of AL Parliamentary Board (ALPB) and AL Local Government Nomination Board meeting. AL President and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting held at her official residence Ganobhaban on Saturday. By-elections to Gaibandha-3, Bagerhat-4 and Dhaka-10 constituencies will be held on March 21. As per the schedules announced by the Election Commission on February 6, the deadline for the submission of nomination paper is February 19, while the date for scrutinizing the nomination papers is February 23 and the last date for the withdrawal of candidacy is February 29. The Commission is likely to announce the polls schedules for the CCC election, and Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 parliamentary by-polls on Sunday. The Gaibandha-3 and Bagerhat-4 constituencies fell vacant following the death of Awami League MPs Dr M Eunus Ali Sarkar and Dr Mozammel Hossain. The Dhaka-10 fell vacant as AL MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh resigned on December 29 to contest the Dhaka South City Corporation election. The Bogura-1 and Jashore-6 constituencies fell vacant following the death of AL MPs Abdul Mannan and Ismat Ara Sadique. Source: UNB AH