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Published : 09 Apr 2026, 12:20 PM
Voting for the Bogura-6 (Sadar) by-election has begun.
BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami candidates cast their votes in their respective areas on Thursday morning. After casting their votes, both candidates expressed optimism about their victory.
The BNP's paddy sheaf candidate Rezaul Karim Badsha cast his vote at the Shibbati centre of Hasna Jahan (Bhandari) Girls High School in the city around 7:30am.
Later, he said: "Bogura-6 is the seat of the Zia family. The seat was vacated by Prime Minister Tarique Rahman. That is why we are 100 percent optimistic about winning."
He added, “Free, beautiful and peaceful elections are under way. There have been no obstacles so far. People can come to the centres spontaneously and cast their votes, if Allah permits.”
Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel cast his vote at the Sewzgari Government Primary School centre in the city at 7:30am.
In his immediate reaction after voting, Abidur said: "By the grace of Allah, I will win by a huge margin. However, Bogura is no exception to the culture of elections under a party government. The situation on the ground in the past 10-12 days is clear to everyone."
He alleged that attempts were made to create mobs in various places and one of their workers was beaten up and injured last night.
Warning that Bogura should not become a new Magura, he said: “We want the current government to run the country well. But if any engineering is planned or an attempt is made to divert the (election) environment onto a different path, then a movement will be created.”
A festive atmosphere prevails throughout the Sadar area surrounding the voting, which began at 7:30am on Thursday.
Voters could be seen in front of the centres but the turnout in the by-election seemed slightly lower than in the 13th general election.
From morning to 10:30am, City Girls' School, PTI School, Zila School, Sewajgari Primary School, and Yakubiya Girls' High School centres saw very little voter presence.
The Army, BGB, RAB, and police are on the ground to maintain law and order.
According to the administration, the constituency houses 450,309 voters. 835 booths have been prepared for voting in 150 centres. CCTV cameras have been installed in each centre to ensure transparency.
The administration has identified 53 of the 150 centres as risky. Of these, five centres are considered more risky where special security measures have been taken.
The most risky centres include the men's and women's centres in the old building of Bogura Government Azizul Haque College, Bhandari Girls' High School Centre, and Bogura Coronation Institution School and College.
Returning Officer Md Fazlul Karim said that overall security arrangements have been strengthened as per the decision of the Election Commission. BGB members will work as a striking force until Apr 11. Executive and judicial magistrates are also on duty in the field.
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman, the current prime minister of Bangladesh, was elected from the seat in the Feb 12 elections.
He was also elected from the Dhaka-17 constituency. The Election Commission declared the Bogura constituency vacant after he retained the Dhaka seat and vacated the Bogura one. Later, the schedule for the by-election was announced.
Three candidates are vying for Bogura-6 seat Rezaul for the BNP, Abidur from Jamaat-e-Islami, and Md Al-Amin Talukdar representing the Bangladesh Development Party (BDP).
