RANGPUR, Oct 05, 2019 (BSS) – The by-poll in Rangpur-3 parliamentary constituency began at 9 am today peacefully amid pleasant weather condition and four-tier tight security measures.
“Though presence of voters in the queues was thinner in the morning, the scene started changing after 11:30 am at many polling centres,” Rangpur Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for Rangpur-3 by-poll GM Sahatab Uddin told BSS.
“The polling will continue uninterruptedly till 5 pm today using electronic voting achiness (EVMs) at all 1,023 booths in 175 polling centres of Rangpur-3 seat,” the Returning Officer said.
Talking to BSS, Presiding Officers of polling centres at Rangpur Homeopathic Medical College, Keranipara High School, Rangpur Keramotia High School, Keranipara Government Primary School (GPS) and Salma Girls’ High School in the city said that polling was continuing peacefully despite lower presence of voters till 10 am.
Outside the city in rural areas, Presiding Officers of Jahanpur GPS, Kathihara Ekramia Dakhil Madrasha, Mominpurhat Dakhil Madrasha and Baro Motukpur GPS polling centres in Sadar upazila said presence of voters started increasing from 11 am.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission has taken adequate measures so that the voters could easily go to the polling centres and cast their votes peacefully in the by-poll.
Six candidates are contesting in by-poll in Rangpur-3 seat that became vacant following death of Leader of the Opposition in the Jatiya Sangshad and JaPa Chairman Hussein Muhammad Ershad on July 14 last.
The contesting 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) in the by-poll.
The Returning Officer said four lakh 41 thousand and 224 voters, including two lakh 20 thousand and 823 males and two lakh 20 thousand 401 females, are eligible to caste 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 are conducting the voting process in the by-poll,” he said.
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.
“Over 3,000 members of police and Ansar-VDP, and 20 roving teams of Rapid Action Battalion, 18 platoons of BGB and members of intelligence agencies are in the field to ensure security for peaceful by-election,” he added.