Tarique Rahman vacates Bogura-6, retains Dhaka-17
According to the Representation of the People Order, an individual may contest elections in up to three constituencies, whereas under the Constitution, a member of parliament is permitted to represent only a single seat
BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has vacated Bogura-6 seat for by-election as he is set to take oath as a member of parliament from Dhaka-17 constituency tomorrow (17 February).
According to the Representation of the People Order, an individual may contest elections in up to three constituencies, whereas under the Constitution, a member of parliament is permitted to represent only a single seat.
Speaking to reporters at the Election Commission headquarters in Dhaka today (16 February), EC Secretary Akhtar Ahmed said, "We have received a letter addressed to the chief election commissioner stating that BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman has vacated the Bogura-6 constituency."
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He added that the commission will now initiate the process of issuing a gazette notification declaring the seat vacant, following which the schedule for a by-election will be announced.
Tarique Rahman has been elected from both Dhaka-17 and Bogura-6 constituencies in the 13th national parliamentary election.
In Bogura-6, Tarique was declared elected with 2,16,284 votes, defeating Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abidur Rahman Sohel, who received 97,626 votes, as announced by Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Md Toufiqul Rahman.
In Dhaka-17, Tarique won by securing 72,699 against Jamaat-e-Islami candidate SM Khaliduzzaman who got 68,300, as announced by Dhaka Divisional Commissioner and Returning Officer Sharaf Uddin Ahmed Chowdhury.
The newly elected MPs are set to take oath as members of the 13th parliament and also members of the Constitution Reform Council tomorrow morning.
EC gazette declares Bogura-6 seat vacant
The Election Commission Secretariat has published a gazette today declaring the Bogura-6 constituency vacant following its relinquishment by BNP Chairperson Tarique Rahman.
The gazette, signed by Election Commission Secretary Akhtar Ahmed on Monday, states that Tarique Rahman, elected from both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17, has submitted a declaration to the commission under the Constitution that he will represent Dhaka-17.
Consequently, the Bogura-6 seat is officially vacant as of today.
A by-election will be required in the Bogura-6 seat vacated by the BNP chairman, with a separate schedule to be announced, and such elections must be held within 90 days.
Election Commissioner Anwarul Islam told The Business Standard that a decision regarding the schedule for these two elections will be made "soon."
On 13 February, the EC published a gazette of 297 elected MP candidates.
The election results for Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 were withheld by court order, while the Sherpur-3 election had been earlier cancelled due to the death of a contesting candidate.
The Election Commission will announce a new schedule for the Sherpur-3 constituency.
