The Election Commission is determined on holding by-polls in three constituencies – Dhaka 10, Gaibandha 3 and Bagerhat 4 – amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Bangladesh till now has confirmed a total of 17 Covid-19 cases including one death.
Covid-19, a new strain of coronavirus, has killed over 9,000 in more than 170 countries.
Election Commission Senior Secretary Md Alamgir made the announcement during a press briefing following a meeting at its office in Dhaka on Thursday.
He said: “The decision has been taken as we are all done with our preparations for the elections and the candidates have no objection in this regard.”
“However, the future of Chittagong City Corporation polls and by-elections in Jessore 6 and Bogra 1 will be decided on March 21,” he added.
Meanwhile, earlier in the day, Director General of the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) Prof Dr Abul Kalam Azad urged the Election Commission to postpone the upcoming polls in order to avoid public gatherings considering the ongoing global Covid-19 outbreak.
While addressing the press at the Institute of Pathology, Disease Control and Research (IEDCR) office in Dhaka, he said:" The commission has been requested to postpone the elections to combat coronavirus."
"We are requesting all to avoid public gatherings. We have also informed the commission regarding this."
