EC extends deadline for Gaibandha-5 by-polls by 90 days  

The Election Commission (EC) has extended the deadline for holding any fresh election to the Gaibandha-5 parliamentary seat by three months, or till 20 January next year, reports UNB.

According to Section 123(4) of the Bangladesh constitution, if a parliamentary seat becomes vacant, it must be filled through election within 90 days.

The new deadline came in line with law as the EC said the incident at Gaibandha-5 was “unwanted, unimaginable and beyond control.”

Following the death of Gaibandha-5 lawmaker and deputy speaker of the parliament Fazle Rabbi Miah on 22 July 2022, it became a constitutional obligation to hold election for the parliamentary seat by 20 October 2022.

But the EC suspended the election because of “widespread malpractices” on the election day on 12 October.