By-polls to four constituencies in mid-July

The Election Commission (EC) will hold by-elections to four parliamentary constituencies mid-July.

The commission will finalise its decision on holding elections to 371 union parishads and 11 municipalities on June 2, EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker said yesterday.

He was speaking to reporters after a commission meeting at EC office in Dhaka. Dates of by-polls to the Laxmipur-2, Sylhet-3, Dhaka-14 and Cumilla-5 constituencies will be announced after the meeting on June 2, he added.

EC decided to hold by-polls to the four parliamentary constituencies amid Covid-19 for constitutional obligations.

On March 3, the EC announced the schedule of by-polls to Laxmipur-2 constituency, polls to 371 UPs and 11 municipalities, slating the election date for April 11. On April 1, the commission postponed the elections due to the Covid-19 situation.

On February 22, parliament secretariat issued a gazette notification announcing that Laxmipur-2 fell vacant because of Mohammad Shahid Islam, also known as Kazi Papul's moral turpitude.

The gazette has been in effect since January 28 when Papul was sentenced to four years of rigorous imprisonment by a Kuwait court.

Sylhet-3 seat fell vacant following Awami League MP Mahmud Us Samad Chowdhury's death on March 11, Dhaka-14 following AL MP Aslamul Hoque's death on April 4, and Cumilla-5 fell vacant after AL MP Abdul Matin Khasru's death on April 14.

According to the constitution, by-elections to fill the vacant seat of a member of parliament should be held within 90 days. Provided that in a case where, in the opinion of the CEC, it is not possible, for reasons of an act of God, to hold such election within 90 days period, such election shall be held within ninety days following next after the last day of such period.