CEC says all measures taken for free and fair Thakurgaon-1 by-election

The Election Commission (EC) is committed to holding a credible by-election in Thakurgaon-1, and the electoral environment remains favourable, Chief Election Commissioner AMM Nasir Uddin said today.

“All necessary measures have been taken to ensure a free and fair election in the constituency,” he told reporters this afternoon at the EC headquarters in Agargaon, Dhaka, after visiting the monitoring cell for law and order during the polls.

The CEC said the monitoring cell that operated during the parliamentary election would function in the same manner for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election.

Adequate law enforcement personnel will also be deployed to maintain law and order during voting, he said.

The deadline for submitting nomination papers for the by-election ends today. Voting is scheduled for October 29, according to the election schedule.

The EC declared the Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary seat vacant on August 22 following Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir’s swearing-in as president.

The nominations will be scrutinised on September 29. Candidates can appeal against the scrutiny decisions from September 30 to October 4, with the Election Commission scheduled to dispose of the appeals on October 6.

Candidates can withdraw their nominations until October 7, while electoral symbols will be allocated on October 8.