Voting in 3 by-polls begins

Voting in Dhaka-10, Bagerhat-4 and Gaibandha-3 by-polls began this morning, amid public health concerns over coronavirus.

The voting began at 9am and will continue till 5pm without any break. There are over 10 lakh voters in the three constituencies.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in Dhaka-10 and traditional ballot papers in Gaibandha-3 and Bagerhat-4.

The Awami League and the Jatiya Party are taking part in all the three by-polls, but another major political party BNP is running in two constituencies -- Dhaka-10 and Gaibandha-3.

The BNP has no candidate in Bagerhat-4 as its candidate's nomination paper was declared invalid there.

There are 321,275 voters under 117 polling centres in Dhaka-10 (Dhanmondi and Lalbagh).

Six candidates, including Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) from the AL and Sheikh Robiul Alam from the BNP, are running in the Dhaka-10 by-polls.

The four other contestants are JP's Hazi Md Shahjahan, Bangladesh Muslim League's Nabab Khawza Ali Hasan Askari, Bangladesh Congress' Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and PDP's Abdur Rahim.

The Dhaka-10 fell vacant as AL MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh resigned on December 29 to contest the Dhaka South City Corporation election.

There are 435,211 voters under 132 polling stations in Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Palashbari upazilas) constituency that fell vacant following the death of AL lawmaker M Eunus Ali Sarkar on December 27.

Four candidates, including Umme Kulsum Smriti from the AL and Moynul Hasan Sadik from the BNP, are contesting the by-election. The two other contenders are JP's Mainur Rabbi Chowdhury and Jasod's SM Khademul Islam Khudi.

Some 316,510 people have voting rights under the 143 polling centres in Bagherhat-4 (Morelganj and Sharankhola upazilas) constituency that fell vacant after the death of AL MP Mozammel Hossain on January 10.

AL candidate Amirul Alam Milon and his rival from JP Sajon Kumar are competing in the race.

On February 6, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the three constituencies.