The authorities have taken all-out measures for holding today's by-election of Gaibandha-1 (Sundarganj) constituency in a peaceful atmosphere.

Four candidates are in the race -- Afroza Bari of ruling Awami League, Shamim Hyder Patwari of Jatiya Party (Ershad), Shariful Islam of Gano Front, and Zia Zaman Khan of National People's Party.

There are 3.38 lakh and 556 voters in the constituency and 109 presiding officers, 647 assistant presiding officers and 1,294 polling officers have been appointed for conducting the election at 109 polling centres of 15 unions and one municipality in Sundarganj upazila, said SM Golam Kibria, upazila nirbahi officer.

“Arrangements are complete to conduct the election free and fair. A total of 1,760 policemen, eight platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh, 40 teams of Rapid Action Battalion and 872 Ansar personnel have been deployed for maintaining peace,” said Rangpur Regional Election Officer GM Sahatab Uddin, also returning officer of the by-election.

The seat of Gaibandha-1 constituency became vacant after lawmaker Golam Mostafa Ahmed of Awami League died in a road accident on December 19 last year.