<div style="text-align: justify; "><b style="font-size: 1rem;">All candidates of Gaibandha-5 (Fulchhari-Saghata) by-elections, except the Awami League nominated candidate, boycotted the polls today.</b><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">The four candidates announced their decision in a press conference held at Bagervita Government Primary School premises in Saghata Upazila around 11:30 am.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Meanwhile, Election Commission (EC) postponed voting at 44 polling stations in the by-polls over "Irregularities".</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Voting began at 88 centres in Saghata upazila and 57 in Fulchhari upazila at 8am today (October 12, 2022).</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Voting is being held through Electronic Voting machines (EVMs) for the first time at 952 booths in 145 centers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said, "We are directly monitoring the election commission through CCTV."</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">Asked about the reasons, he said, "We won't say this!&nbsp; We have seen irregularities, that's why. There were serious irregularities. "</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We are the Election Commission, the independent commission.…There have been some irregularities, no fair election was being held there. It will not reflect the public opinion. That's why we postponed voting at those centers.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify;">"We are monitoring the situation further," the chief election commissioner said.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br></div><div style="text-align: justify; ">bnbd24/kh</div>