By-elections today amid virus scare

Amid coronavirus fears, three parliamentary constituencies -- Dhaka-10, Gaibandha-3, and Bagerhat-4 -- are going to by-elections today.

There are over 10 lakh voters in the three constituencies. The voting will begin at 9:00am and continue until 5:00pm without any break.

Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) will be used in Dhaka-10 and traditional ballot papers in Gaibandha-3 and Bagerhat-4.

The Awami League and the Jatiya Party are taking part in all the three by-polls, but another major political party BNP is running in two constituencies -- Dhaka-10 and Gaibandha-3.

The BNP has no candidate in Bagerhat-4 as its candidate's nomination paper was declared invalid there.

There are 321,275 voters under 117 polling centres in Dhaka-10 (Dhanmondi and Lalbagh). 

Six candidates, including Md Shafiul Islam (Mohiuddin) from the AL and Sheikh Robiul Alam from the BNP, are running in the Dhaka-10 by-polls.

The four other contestants are JP's Hazi Md Shahjahan, Bangladesh Muslim League's Nabab Khawza Ali Hasan Askari, Bangladesh Congress' Mizanur Rahman Chowdhury and PDP's Abdur Rahim.

At a regular media briefing on Covid-19 at the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) in Mohakhali yesterday, Additional Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services Prof Nasima Sultana said voting in EVMs carried the risk of novel coronavirus contamination.

However, GM Shahatab Uddin, returning officer of Dhaka-10 by-polls, said they took precautionary measures following the coronavirus outbreak.

"There'll be hand sanitisers and tissue papers at every polling booth. Banners will be there urging voters to wash hands before pressing the EVM button to cast votes," he said.

The Dhaka-10 fell vacant as AL MP Sheikh Fazle Noor Taposh resigned on December 29 to contest the Dhaka South City Corporation election.

There are 435,211 voters under 132 polling stations in Gaibandha-3 (Sadullapur-Palashbari upazilas) constituency that fell vacant following the death of AL lawmaker M Eunus Ali Sarkar on December 27.

Four candidates, including Umme Kulsum Smriti from the AL and Moynul Hasan Sadik from the BNP, are contesting the by-election. The two other contenders are JP's Mainur Rabbi Chowdhury and Jasod's SM Khademul Islam Khudi.

Some 316,510 people have voting rights under 143 polling centres in Bagherhat-4 (Morelganj and Sharankhola upazilas) constituency that fell vacant after the death of AL MP Mozammel Hossain on January 10.

AL candidate Amirul Alam Milon and his rival from JP Sajon Kumar are competing in the race.

On February 6, the Election Commission announced the by-election schedules for the three constituencies.

There is a constitutional obligation for the EC to complete a parliamentary by-election within 90 days after the constituency concerned falls vacant.