Voting Underway in Dhaka-5, Naogaon-6 By-Polls

Voting is underway on Saturday in the by-elections for Dhaka-5 and Naogaon-6 constituencies via electronic voting machines (EVMs) rather than traditional ballot papers.

Two major political parties are taking part in the by-polls, the Bangladesh Awami League and the BNP.

In the by-polls, the voting began about 9:00 am and will continue without any break until 5:00 pm.

Six MP candidates, including AL-nominated Md Kazi Monirul Islam and BNP-nominated Salauddin Ahmed, are in the electoral race in the Dhaka-5 constituency.

Mir Abdus Sabir of the Jatiya Party, HM Ibrahim Bhuiyan of the Gano Front, MD Arifur Rahman of the NPP and MD Ansar Hossain Sikdar of the Bangladesh Congress are the four other contenders.

In 187 polling stations in the parliamentary seat comprised of 14 wards (48-50, 60-70) of the Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) in Demra and Motijheel police stations, a total of 4,71,129 voters—2,41,41,464 men and 229665 women-are required to exercise their voting rights.

Three MP contenders-Md Anwar Hossain (Helal) of AL, Sheikh Md Rezaul Islam of BNP and Md Khandkar Intekhab Alam of NPP-are in the voting race in the Naogaon-6 Constituency.

In 104 polling stations in the constituency comprising Raninagar and Atrai upazilas, a total of 3,06,725 voters, 1,53,758 men and 1,52,967 women, are expected to vote.

Dhaka-5 fell vacant on May 6 following the death of Awami League MP Habibur Rahman Mollah, while Nagaon-6 fell vacant on July 27 following the demise of AL MP Israfil Alam.

On September 03 last, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the two parliamentary constituencies.