The Election Commission (EC) has fixed Feb 28 for the Dhaka North mayoral by-election and polls to elect councilors for the 36 new wards to the North and South city corporations.
The election to the Kishoreganj-1 parliamentary constituency, which has fallen vacant following the death of Awami League leader Syed Ashraful Islam, will be held on the same day.
EC Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed announced the schedule for the election on Tuesday (Jan 22) after a meeting of the Commission presided over by Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda.
The deadline for filing nominations ends on Jan 30 while officials will scrutinize them on Feb 2.
The last day to withdraw candidacy is Feb 9.
The office of the Dhaka North mayor fell vacant after the death of Annisul Huq on Nov 30, 2017.
The EC’s announcement of the schedule for the by-polls comes six days after the High Court scrapped a stay order on it.
The Commission had last year announced that mayoral by-polls for Dhaka north and the new city corporation wards will be held on Feb 26.
But the process was halted after Ataur Rahman and Jahangir Alam, Union Council chairpersons of Bhatara and Beraid, had filed the petition challenging the decision over their unions being added to Dhaka as city corporation wards.
Ataur and Jahangir are general secretaries of Bhatara and Beraid unit of the BNP and the Awami League respectively.
After hearing their petition, the High Court the mayoral by-polls and elections to new wards in for six months on Jan 17 last year.
It also issued a rule asking the Election Commission to explain why the election schedule should not be declared beyond its legal purview.
Following an appeal by the EC, the Appellate Division ordered the High Court to quickly settle its ruling concerning the by-polls for Dhaka North mayor.
In keeping with the apex court’s order, the High Court took cognizance of the matter on Jan 16.
But the ruling was scrapped as both the petitioners and the Election Commission failed to appear before the court.
Kishoreganj-1 election
Polls to parliamentary constituency, which has fallen vacant following the death of Awami League leader Syed Ashraful Islam, will be also held on Feb 28.
According to the schedules announced on Tuesday, the last day to submit nominations is Jan 31 and officials while scrutinize them on Feb. The deadline to pull out of the races ends on Feb 10.
A general election, not by-polls will be held as Syed Ashraf could not take oath, EC Secretary Ahmed said before adding candidates, who contested for the seat in the Dec 30 polls, can file nominations again.
Meanwhile, the schedule for the polls to the 50 reserved seats in parliaments on Feb 3.
The Election Commission said that it would announce the election schedule for the 50 reserved constituencies on Feb 3.
“We had earlier said that it would be announced on Feb 17, but scheduled it ahead keeping in mind the Dhaka city polls”, said Secretary Ahmed.
