Voting is progressing peacefully in Rangpur-3 constituency (Sadar upazila) this morning.

Around 4.42 lakh people are expected to exercise their franchise during the polls that began at 9:00am and will continue till 5:00pm without any break, reports our Dinajpur correspondent.

Voting in progress in Rangpur-3 constituency on October 5, 2019. Photo: Star/ Kangkon Karmakar

The parliamentary seat fell vacant after HM Ershad, Jatiya Party chairman and also opposition leader of the House, died on July 14.

A total of six aspirants from different political parties are contesting the by-polls. Of the candidates, two are Ershad’s family members -- his son and JP candidate Saad Ershad and nephew Shahriar Asif.

Asif, who is contesting as an independent candidate, had been expelled from the party for violating rules.

The other contestants are: Rita Rahman of BNP; Shafiul Alam of National People’s Party; Kazi Mohammad Shahidullah of Gono Front and Touhidur Rahman Mondol of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish.

Meanwhile, Saad, Rita, Shahidullah and Shafiul are not eligible to cast their votes as they are not voters of the constituency, GM Sahatab Uddin, regional election officer in Rangpur, told the correspondent yesterday.

To ensure that no untoward incident takes place, 3,000 members of police and Ansar, 18 platoons of BGB and adequate number of Rab officials will remain deployed during the polls. There will also be striking forces led by 18 executive and four judicial magistrates.

The day has been declared a holiday in Rangpur, said the election officer, adding that vehicular movement will be restricted in the voting areas.

Meanwhile, a mock voting using electronic voting machines (EVM) was held at all the centres from 10:00am to 4:00pm on Thursday. According to election officials, the turnout was around 80 percent.

The constituency is considered the stronghold of JP, the main opposition in parliament. Ershad won all elections he took part in from this seat following the end of his military rule in 1990.

Ershad first got elected in 1991. He was also elected in 2008, 2014 and 2019.

Besides, his brother GM Quader and widow Raushan Ershad were also elected MPs in 2001 and 2009 by-elections respectively.