Bangladesh election commission on Wednesday postponed the election of the Sherpur-3 constituency following the death of Jamaat-e-Islami-nominated candidate and district Jamaat secretary Nuruzzaman Badal.
Badal, 51, died on Tuesday due to illness.
Election commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud on Wednesday said that the election in one of the Sherpur constituencies has been postponed following the death of a validly nominated candidate.
Speaking to reporters at the Election Commission headquarters, Masud expressed condolences over the candidate’s death and prayed for the eternal peace of the deceased.
He said that under Article 17 of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, all proceedings related to that election have been terminated and stand cancelled.
‘As per the law, the election process in that constituency has been cancelled, and the Election Commission will announce a fresh schedule shortly. However, when exactly the new schedule will be announced has not yet been decided, the election commissioner said.
He explained that when a new election schedule is declared, candidates who had already submitted nomination papers would not be required to file fresh nominations, though new aspirants would still be allowed to submit nomination papers if they wish.
The matter, Masud said, would be decided formally at a commission meeting.
The commissioner made it clear that the election in the Sherpur-3 seat cannot be held before February 12.
‘There is no scope for holding the election before February 12, as the schedule must be announced with at least 15 days’ notice, including time for appeals and scrutiny,’ he said.
According to Article 17(1) of the RPO, 1972, if a validly nominated candidate who has not withdrawn dies, the returning officer must terminate the proceedings of that election through a public notice.
Under Article 17(2), fresh proceedings must then be commenced as if for a new election, although other contesting candidates are not required to submit fresh nomination papers or make additional deposits.
