RANGPUR, Oct 4, 2019 (BSS) – The Election Commissioner with the
authorities concerned has built up four-tier security blankets and completed
all the preparations for conducting by-poll in Rangpur-3 parliamentary
constituency tomorrow.
Talking to BSS, Rangpur Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for
Rangpur-3 by-poll GM Sahatab Uddin said six candidates are contesting in
Rangpur-3 by-poll with their allocated respective symbols.
The candidates are Jatiya Party (JaPa)-nominated Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad
(Plough), BNP-nominated candidate Rita Rahman (Sheaf of paddy), independent
candidate Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif (Motor Car), National People Party-
nominated candidate Shafiul Alam (Mango), Gano Front-nominated candidate
Muhammad Shahidullah (Fish) and Khelafat Majlish-nominated candidate Tauhidur
Rahman Mandal Raju (Wall Clock).
Voters are expecting a triangular contest in Rangpur-3 by-poll among JaPa
candidate Rahgir Al Mahi Saad Ershad, BNP candidate Rita Rahman and
independent candidate Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif.
Earlier, the six candidates and their workers ended their hectic last
moment electioneering at 9 am on Thursday.
“The polling will begin at 9 am and continue uninterruptedly till 5 pm
tomorrow using the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at all 1,023 booths in
175 polling centres across the Rangpur-3 parliamentary constituency,” the
Returning Officer said.
A total of four lakh 41 thousand and 224 voters, including two lakh 20
thousand and 823 male and two lakh 20 thousand 401 female, are eligible to
cast their votes in the by-election.
“A total of 3,244 election officials, including 175 presiding officers,
1,023 assistant presiding officers and 2,046 polling officers will conduct
the voting process at all the 175 polling centres,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Election Commissioner has sent the trained election
officials with ballot papers and EVMs to all 1,023 booths in 175 poling
centres, including 49 ‘important’ polling centres, in the constituency.
“To ensure peaceful law and order, enforce election rules and prevention of
crimes, 18 executive magistrates, four judicial magistrates and one mobile
election tribunal led by judicial magistrate are working in Rangpur-3 seat,”
the Returning Officer said.
In addition to deployment of over 3,000 members of police and Anwar-VDP, 20
roving teams of Rapid Action Battalion, 18 platoons of BGB and members of
intelligence agencies have been deployed to ensure security at all booths for
peaceful by-election.
“We have built up four-tier security measures for conducting the by-poll
peacefully in a free, fair, transparent and credible manner,” he told BSS at
3:10 pm today adding that the government has declared public holiday tomorrow
in Rangpur-3 seat.
The law enforcement agencies concerned will play their active roles so that
the voters could easily go to the polling centres and cast their respective
votes in a peaceful and festive atmosphere.
“The polling will be suspended if any irregularity was reported and proved
at any polling centre during the by-poll and stern legal actions would be
taken against the law-breaker responsible persons,” the Returning Officer
said.
Earlier, the Rangpur-3 parliamentary constituency fell vacant following the
death of Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangshad and JaPa Chairman
Hussein Muhammad Ershad on July 14 last.
On Sept 1, the Election Commission announced the schedule for by-election
in Rangpur seat 3.