Bogura: The Election Commission is set to conduct by-elections for the Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 parliamentary seats by April 14. Election Commissioner Rahmanel Masud announced the timeline, emphasizing the commission’s intent to complete the electoral process before Pahela Baishakh due to potential weather-related challenges.
According to United News of Bangladesh, Masud highlighted the commission’s proactive approach to organizing the elections ahead of the traditional Bengali New Year, as the rainy season and storms are prevalent afterward. He reassured that postal voting would be maintained for the by-elections, with specific measures in place. For Sherpur-3, a postal ballot had been previously issued, though voting did not occur. A fresh round of postal ballots will be sent for Bogura-6, with registered voters receiving them directly.
Masud further elaborated on the ongoing process for electing members to reserved women’s seats in Parliament. The voting process is underway, primarily driven by parliamentary party nominations. The formal completion is required within 90 days of oath-taking, adhering to the stipulated timeframe.
In response to inquiries about the election schedule, Masud confirmed that announcements would be made soon, within the 90-day period. Political parties have commenced their nomination processes, and the commission is set to finalize the formalities.
The need for by-elections arose after BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, who won seats in Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 during the February 12 general election, chose to represent Dhaka-17, leaving Bogura-6 open for a by-election. Furthermore, the election for Sherpur-3 was canceled following the demise of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nuruzzaman Badal.
The general elections on February 12 saw voting in 299 out of 300 constituencies, excluding Sherpur-3. The Election Commission issued a gazette for 297 elected MPs, withholding results for Chattogram-2 and 4 due to court decisions. On Tuesday, 296 newly elected MPs were sworn in, including 208 from BNP, 68 from Jamaat, and several from other political entities.