All measures underway to ensure fair Thakurgaon-1 by-election: CEC

The EC will monitor the election situation in real time and deploy sufficient law enforcement personnel to maintain order during the 29 October vote.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin today (27 September) said the Election Commission (EC) has taken all necessary preparations to ensure a free, fair and peaceful by-election in Thakurgaon-1 constituency.

"We assure you that just as the 13th parliamentary election was praised at home and abroad, Insha'Allah, you will praise this by-election too. We will take all necessary measures to this end," he said.

He made this remark while talking to reporters after inspecting the monitoring cell for the Thakurgaon-1 by-election at the Election Commission building this afternoon (27 September).

Expressing optimism about holding a fair election, he said the overall situation in the election field is currently very good.

He said the EC will centrally monitor the overall and ongoing situation on the ground in real time during the election so that appropriate measures can be taken at the right time.

Meanwhile, the EC held a meeting with representatives of law enforcement agencies at the Election Commission building this afternoon ahead of the by-election.

Other election commissioners were present at the meeting, chaired by CEC AMM Nasir Uddin.

Asked about the law-and-order situation, the CEC said a sufficient number of law enforcement personnel would be deployed in the field to keep the situation completely under control during the election.

Voting will be held on Thursday, 29 October, from 8am to 4pm without any intermission using transparent ballot boxes.

The Thakurgaon District Election Officer is serving as the Returning Officer for the election.

As per the announced schedule, the nomination papers will be scrutinised on Tuesday (29 September). Anyone wishing to appeal against the decision of the Returning Officer during scrutiny will have five days from 30 September to 4 October to do so. 

Appeals will be disposed of on 6 October. 7 October is the last date for withdrawal of candidature, while electoral symbols will be allocated among the candidates on 8 October.

The EC has kept registration for postal voting within the country open from today, to 8 October for the by-election. 

Government officials and employees and those engaged in election duties who wish to vote have been requested to complete registration through the 'Postal Vote BD' mobile app.

Earlier, registration of expatriate voters was completed from 12 September to 20.

The Thakurgaon-1 seat fell vacant as the lawmaker elected from the constituency in the 13th parliamentary election has assumed office as the president of the country.