Dhaka – Election Commission (EC) has completed all necessary preparations to hold the Gaibandha-1 by-polls today in a free, fair and neutral way.EC sources said the materials for holding the poll had been sent to the election centres and the election officers as well as the law enforcers are there to hold the poll.
The election would begin at 8am and continue till 4pm without any break. General Holiday has been announced at the election areas.
A total of 3,33,426 voters would cast votes at 637 booths of 109 polling centres. Of the voters, 1,62,585 are male and 1,70,841 are female voters.
A total of seven candidates would contest the polls. The contestants are Awami League candidate Golam Mostafa Ahmed with boat symbol, Jatiya Party candidate Shamim Hayder Patwari with plough, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal candidate Mohammad Ali Pramanik with flaming torch, Jatiya Party (Monju) candidate Waheduzzaman with by-cycle symbol, National Peoples party candidate Zia Zaman Khan with mango symbol, Gonofront candidate Sariful Islam with fish symbol and independent candidate Mostafa Mohsin with apple symbol.
EC said they have made foolproof security arrangement to hold the poll without any trouble and amid a festive environment.
A huge number of law enforcers have been deployed. A total 22 law enforcers including eight police would be at the general polling centre while 24 law enforcers including 10 police will be at the important vote centres.
Three teams comprising of police, Armed Police Battalion (APBN) and Battalion Ansar will be there at each Union and five mobile teams will be at each municipality will maintain law and order. There would be total 50 mobile team and 17 striking force at different strategic points to avert any untoward incident.
EC has also deployed 17 teams of RAB and seven platoon of BGB at the election area. The law enforcers would remain in the field for four days starting two days before the election.
Besides, 19 executive magistrates have been deployed for four days to hold trial of any crimes related to elections and there are also four judicial magistrates for any sort of trial of violating the electoral rules. – Staff Reporter
