Gaibandha-5 by-polls o be held Jan 4

The Election Commission (EC) on Tuesday announced the fresh schedule for the by-poll of the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary constituency to be held on January 4.

The EC took the decision at a meeting held at the commission office in Agargaon area of Dhaka with Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal in the chair.

The election will take place at 145 centres of the constituency with the existing constants, Election Commission Secretary Jahangir Alam told the reporters after the emerging from the meeting.

Earlier on October 12, the EC suspended the by-elections over widespread allegations of vote rigging and voter intimidation.

Gaibandha-5 constituency consists of 10 unions of Saghata upazila and 7 unions of Phulchhari upazila. There are 3 lakh 39 thousand 743 voters.

Mahmud Hasan Ripon (Awami League), AHM Golam Shahid Ranju (Jatiya Party), Advocate Jahangir Alam (Independent), Nahiduzzaman Nishad (Independent) and Syed Mahbubur Rahman (Independent) contested in the elections.

Former Member of Parliament and Deputy Speaker of the 11th National Parliament Fazle Rabbi Mia passed away on July 23 and the Gaibandha-5 seat fell vacant on that date.