Electioneering begins with symbol allocation
Candidates of the Rangpur-3 parliamentary by-election started electioneering in the constituency yesterday, after getting allocation of respective symbols from the returning officer.
Rangpur Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for the by-polls GM Sahatab Uddin allocated the symbols among six candidates at his conference room.
The returning officer allocated symbol “wooden plough” for Jatiya Party (JP)-nominated candidate Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad, “sheaf of paddy” for BNP-nominated candidate Rita Rahman, “motor bus” for independent candidate Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif, “mango” for National People’s Party candidate Shafiul Alam, “fish” for Gono Front candidate Muhammad Shahidullah and “wall clock” for Tauhidur Khelafat Majlish-nominated candidate Rahman Mandal Raju.
After getting their respective symbols, most contesting candidates and their supporters started election campaigns through bringing out rallies and visiting door-to-door, seeking votes for their respective candidates and symbols.
Talking to the news agency yesterday, the returning officer said a total of 4,41,224 voters are eligible to cast their votes in Rangpur-3 by-election, slated for October 5. Voting of the by-election will be held using the electronic voting machines (EVMs) at all 1,023 booths of 175 polling centres across the constituency from 9am to 5pm on the day.
“A total of 3,244 election officials, including 175 presiding officers and 3,069 assistant presiding officers and polling officers will conduct the voting process at all 175 polling centres in the constituency,” Sahatab said.
Earlier, twelve aspirants collected nomination papers to vie for the by-polls,” he said.
However, three of them, including Awami League (AL) leader Abdul Mazid, JP leaders SM Fakhr-uz-Zaman Jahangir and SM Yasser did not submit their nominations papers.
During the scrutiny, the returning officer cancelled nomination papers of two candidates -- independent candidate and BNP leader Kawser Zaman Babla and Ekramul Haque of Bangladesh Congress.
The RO declared seven submitted nomination papers valid after the scrutiny.
AL candidate Advocate Rezaul Karim Razu withdrew his candidature on Monday, extending his support to the JP candidate, leaving six contenders for the post.
Earlier, the Election Commission announced the schedule for the by-polls in the Rangpur parliamentary constituency on September 1, as the seat fell vacant following the death of JP founder and former president HM Ershad.
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