Citing various irregularities, Habibur Rahman Habib, the BNP nominated candidate for Pabna 4 constituency has boycotted the by-polls and demanded an immediately cancellation of the voting that commenced at 9am Saturday, set to continue till 5pm without any break.
“Chief Election Commissioner had promised fair elections in Pabna but this is not the reality. It is never possible to have a fair election during the reign of Awami League government,” said Habibur Rahman during a press conference at his home in Shahapur village of Ishwardi upazila around 12:30 pm on Saturday.
Habibur and his political associates are abstaining from voting and demand its immediate cancellation.
Meanwhile, voting started in 129 centres of the constituency with a total of 381,112 voters eligible to exercise their franchise, said Abdul Latif Sheikh, district returning officer.
A number of 2,301 presiding officers are on election duty, he added.
The Election Commission said they took the highest precautionary measures to arrange a smooth voting experience.
Some 18 executive and two judicial magistrates, and eight platoons of BGB, RAB and police are tasked with holding the elections peacefully.
Abdul Latif further said maximum precautionary measures had been taken to avoid any kind of untoward incidents centring the vote.
The constituency fell vacant after the death of Shamsur Rahman Sharif Dilu, former land minister and the member of parliament of the constituency.
Subsequently, the Election Commission announced the schedule of the by-elections.
Now, with Habibur Rahman Habib out of the election, Awami League’s three-time elected chairman of Ishwardi upazila Nuruzzaman Biswas, and Jatiya Party’s Rezaul Karim are contesting the by-polls.
The Pabna 4 constituency consists of two upazilas (Ishwardi and Atgharia), two municipalities and 12 unions.
