<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">Voting to Gaibandha-5 (Saghata-Fulchhari upazila) constituency by-polls began at 8 am today amid tight security as the polling will continue till 4 pm without any break.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A public holiday has been announced in the constituency to enable the voters to exercise their rights to franchise, officials said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A total of 3, 39, 743 voters will cast their votes at 952 booths of 145 centres in all the 17 unions of the upazilas to elect Member of Parliament from the constituency, they said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Deputy Commissioner Oliur Rahman visited some polling centers in the morning to see the polling atmosphere.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">During his visit, the voters expressed satisfaction over the polling atmosphere in the centers, saying they are exercising their rights to franchise peacefully.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) and Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) personnel along with other law enforcers are patrolling the roads and important places of the constituencies so the voters can cast their votes without any difficulties, said police super Md. Kamal Hossain.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As many as 17 executive magistrates and two judicial magistrates are on duty to hold the by-polls peacefully said, additional district magistrate Jahid Hasan Siddiquee.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Mobile and summary courts are also tasked with instantly trying the law violators during the polling, he also said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">A number of voters were seen to go to the polling centres to cast their votes with festive mood.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Five candidates are contesting the election race, district election officer said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The candidates are Mahmud Hasan Ripon (Awami League), Zahangir Hossain (Bikolpo Dhara), Nahiduzzaman Nishat (Independent), Syed Mahbubur Rahman (Independent), and Golam Shaheed Ranzu (Jatiya Party).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">But, a few days back, independent candidate Nahiduzzaman Nishat at a press conference in Bogura Press Club had announced to withdraw himself from the election race.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The constituency fell vacant due to the death of veteran parliamentarian and deputy speaker of the Jatiya Sangshad Adv. Fazle Rabbi Miah.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Then, on August 24, the election commission announced the by-polls to be held on October 12.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">According to the election schedule, the polling started on October 12, but after noon, due to some irregularities the voting was suspended.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"> Later, the election commission rescheduled the by-elections for January 4. BSS</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>