Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary seat declared vacant, by-election to be held

The Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary seat has been declared vacant after Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir assumed the duties of president. The Parliament Secretariat sent a letter to the Election Commission Secretariat on Saturday (August 22), formally notifying it of the vacancy.

The letter said Mirza Fakhrul, elected as a member of the 13th Jatiya Sangsad from parliamentary constituency No. 3, Thakurgaon-1, assumed the duties of president on Friday (August 21). The seat therefore became vacant from the date he assumed office under Article 50(4) of the Constitution.

The notification has been sent to the government press for immediate publication in an extraordinary issue of the Bangladesh Gazette. A copy was also sent to the senior secretary of the Election Commission Secretariat to take necessary steps to arrange a by-election for the vacant seat.

Copies of the notification were also sent to the Cabinet secretary, Prime Minister’s Office, offices of the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, and the Leader of the Opposition, among other relevant offices, for information and necessary action.

Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud said the commission would review the relevant laws and regulations before taking further steps following the declaration of the vacancy. He said the by-election would be held within 90 days. “As the local government elections are approaching, we will not take much time to arrange the Thakurgaon-1 by-election. The election will be held soon,” he said.