By-Elections for Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 Likely on April 9

The Election Commission is planning to hold by-elections in Bogura-6 and Sherpur-3 constituencies on April 9, an EC official said on Tuesday.

The schedule is expected to be announced later the same day.

On Sunday, Election Commissioner Rahmanel Masud stated that the commission aims to complete the by-polls by April 14, preferably before Pahela Baishakh, to avoid disruptions from the rainy season and storms.

He confirmed that postal voting will continue for these by-elections.

BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman won both Bogura-6 and Dhaka-17 seats in the February 12 general election but vacated Bogura-6 to retain Dhaka-17, triggering the by-election.

The Sherpur-3 seat was cancelled on February 4 after Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Nuruzzaman Badal died.

The February 12 polls covered 299 of 300 constituencies (excluding Sherpur-3). The EC published gazettes for 297 MPs on the same day, withholding Chattogram-2 and Chattogram-4 results due to court orders.

On Tuesday, 296 newly elected MPs took oath. The composition includes:

• 208 from BNP
• 68 from Jamaat-e-Islami
• 7 independents
• 6 from NCP
• 2 from Bangladesh Khilafat Majlis
• 1 each from Bangladesh Jatiya Party-BJP, Gano Odhikar Parishad, Ganasamhati Andolan, Khelafat Majlish, and Islami Andolan Bangladesh.