Bogura: By-elections for the parliamentary constituencies Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 are set to take place on April 9, as confirmed by the Election Commission on Tuesday. EC Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed announced the schedule during a press briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban in the city.
According to United News of Bangladesh, the timeline for the by-elections includes a deadline for the submission of nomination papers on March 2, with scrutiny of these papers set for March 5. Candidates have until March 14 to withdraw their candidacy if they choose.
Earlier this week, Election Commissioner Rahmanel Masud indicated that the Commission aims to complete the by-elections for these two parliamentary seats by April 14. This timeline is strategically set to avoid the challenges posed by the rainy season and storms, which are common after Pahela Baishakh. Masud expressed confidence in the Commission’s ability to meet this deadline.
The decision for a by-election in Bogura-6 follows BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman’s choice to vacate the seat after his election from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 during the February 12 general elections. Rahman chose to retain the Dhaka-17 seat. The need for a by-election in Sherpur-3 arose after the death of Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nuruzzaman Badal, leading to the cancellation of the election in that constituency.
The general elections on February 12 saw voting in 299 out of 300 constituencies, excluding Sherpur-3. A gazette for 297 elected MP candidates was published subsequently, with results for Chattogram-2 and 4 constituencies withheld due to court decisions. On Tuesday, 296 newly elected MPs were sworn in, including representatives from the BNP, Jamaat, and several other parties.