All postponed polls scheduled for June 21

The Election Commission will hold all postponed elections, including the by-polls to Laxmipur-2 constituency, the first phase of union parishad, and the sixth phase of municipality polls, on June 21.

The EC also announced the schedule for the by-election to Sylhet-3, Dhaka-14, and Cumilla-5 constituencies, slating the voting date on July 14, EC Secretary Humayun Kabir Khandaker said yesterday after a commission meeting at the EC office.

He said health guidelines for coronavirus would be strictly followed at the poll centres.

According to the election schedules for by-polls to the Sylhet-3, Dhaka-14, and Cumilla-5 constituencies, the deadline for submitting nomination papers is June 15.

Returning officers will examine the papers on June 17, and the last date for the withdrawal of candidature is June 23.

On March 3, the EC announced the schedule for 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 all the elections due to the Covid-19 situation.

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

It is also going to hold the UP and other elections as the elections were due, EC Joint Secretary Asaduzzaman Arzu said.

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.

On February 22, the 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.

Asaduzzaman said that all candidates would need to follow Covid-19 health guidelines and election code of conduct strictly during electioneering.