<div><span style="font-size: 1rem;">The by-election to Gaibandha-5 constituency, which was suspended due to irregularities, will be held on Wednesday.</span><br></div><div><br></div><div>On October 12 last year, the Election Commission (EC) suspended the by-election due to ‘rampant irregularities’ on the election day and later the commission fixed January 4 for holding the polls.</div><div><br></div><div>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 election for the parliamentary seat by October 20, 2022. Accordingly it was scheduled for October 12.</div><div><br></div><div>Elections will be monitored through CCTV cameras as before while voting will be held through electronic voting machines(EVMs) from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.</div><div><br></div><div>A three-member committee was formed to look into the election irregularities on October 12.</div><div><br></div><div>Following the recommendations of the committee, the Election Commission took punitive actions against 133 officials including an additional deputy commissioner, five sub-inspectors and returning officer of the election.</div><div><br></div><div>The candidates of the Gaibandha-5 by-election are-Awami League candidate Mahmud Hasan Ripon, Jatiya Party candidate AHM Golam Shaheed Ranju, Bikalpa Dhara candidate Advocate Jahangir Alam, independent candidate Syed Mahbubur Rahman.</div><div><br></div><div>The constituency consists of Saghata and Phulchhari upazila and 339,743 people will exercise their franchise.</div><div><br></div><div>UNB Gaibandha correspondent reports: Election materials including EVMs were distributed for 145 polling centers on Tuesday.</div><div><br></div><div>Returning officer Abdul Motaleb and assistant returning officer Kamrul Islam were present.</div><div><br></div><div>Rab, police, BGB and Ansar members will remain deployed to hold the election peacefully, said Abdul Motaleb. - UNB</div><div><br></div><div>bnbd24/fas</div>