Raju gets Awami League ticket for Rangpur 3 by-polls

Awami League has nominated Advocate Rezaul Karim Raju, the general secretary of Rangpur district Awami League, to contest the Rangpur 3 by-election slated for October 5.

The nomination was finalized at a meeting of the party Parliamentary Board and Local Government Election Nomination Board held on Saturday at Ganabhaban, the official residence of the prime minister.

Party Parliamentary Board and Local Government Election Nomination Chief and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina chaired the meeting.

“The meeting unanimously nominated Rezaul Karim Raju for contesting the Rangpur 3 constituency by-polls,” an Awami League press release signed by its Office Secretary Dr Abdus Sobhan Golap said.

On Sept 1, the Election Commission (EC) announced the schedule for the Rangpur by-polls.

Voting of the by-election will be held on October 5 using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) across the constituency.

As per the schedule, the deadline for submission of nomination papers is September 9, while the date for scrutinizing those is September 11, and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is September 16.

The election will begin at 9am and continue till 5 pm.

A total of 4,42,072 people are scheduled to exercise their franchise in the election. Of them, 221,310 are men, and 220, 762 women.

The Rangpur 3 constituency fell vacant after the death of Leader of the Opposition and Jatiya Party Chairman Hussain Muhammad Ershad, who passed away at Combined Military Hospital (CMH) in Dhaka on July 14 while undergoing treatment.

The Election Commission has a constitutional obligation to complete the by-polls within 90 days after it fell vacant.