EC extends deadline for Gaibandha-5 by-polls by 90 days

The Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for holding the fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, or till January 20, 2023.

While there was no concrete decision over if a new election will be held, pending an investigation into malpractices on the election day, the Election Commission said that the deadline has been extended to follow the rule of 90 days in holding an election after a seat falls vacant.

According to Section 123(4) of the Bangladesh constitution, if a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, it must be filled through an election within 90 days.

The new deadline came in line with the law as the EC said the incident at Gaibandha-5 was “unwanted, unimaginable and beyond control.”

Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and Deputy Speaker of the Parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on July 22, 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold an election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022.

But the EC cancelled the election because of “widespread malpractices” on election day on October 12.