Polling under way for by-election in Bogura-6, general election in Sherpur-3

No referendum is required in Sherpur-3 after the “Yes” vote prevailed during the national election

Voting has begun in the Bogura-6 by-election alongside the general election in Sherpur-3 for the 13th parliament.

Election officials said polling began at 7:30am on Thursday as scheduled and will continue without a break until 4:30pm.

The Bogura-6 seat became vacant after BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, now the prime minister, who secured two seats during the parliamentary polls on Feb 12, opted to relinquish this particular constituency.

Meanwhile, the Sherpur-3 ballot was previously postponed following the death of a contesting candidate after the schedule was announced.

Authorities noted that a referendum is no longer required in Sherpur-3 as the “Yes” vote prevailed during the general election.

Bogura-6

Three candidates are vying for this seat: Md Rezaul Karim Badsha of the BNP, Md Abidur Rahman from Jamaat-e-Islami, and Md Al-Amin Talukdar representing the Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).

The constituency features 150 polling centres and 835 booths for 450,309 voters.

Security deployment includes 250 Army personnel as a striking force, eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (189 members), 10 teams of Rapid Action Battalion (70 members), 1,327 police officers, and 1,990 members of Ansar-VDP.

Sherpur-3

The race involves three contenders: Md Mahmudul Hoque Rubel of the BNP, Md Masudur Rahman Masud from Jamaat, and Md Mizanur Rahman of the Bangladesher Samajtantrik Dal (Marxist).

There are 128 centres and 751 booths for a total of 409,806 voters.

Security arrangements include 140 Army personnel, 16 BGB platoons (328 members), 14 RAB teams (135 members), 1,155 police officers, and 1,704 Ansar-VDP members.

Md Monir Hossain, deputy secretary of the Election Commission (EC) Secretariat (Election Management-2 Wing), said 18 to 20 security personnel have been deployed at each centre depending on risk classification, with 36 executive and judicial magistrates on duty.

The EC has also placed 18 of its own observers in each seat, alongside more than 400 local observers.

Postal ballots are in play in both constituencies, with commission officials serving as returning and assistant returning officers.

Around 5,000 polling officials, including presiding, assistant presiding and polling officers, have been rostered to manage voting operations.