Barisal-5 by election today

BARISAL, June 14 (UNB): The by-election in Barisal-5 constituency will be held today (Sunday).

The Election Commission (EC) said the voting will start at 8:00 am and will continue until 4:00 pm without any break.

The Barisal-5 constituency fell vacant following the death of Awami League (AL) MP Shawkat Hossain Hiron.

Only two candidates - Hiron's wife Jebunnessa Afroj of AL and Saiful Islam Liton of BNF are contesting the poll.

Shohidul Alam, deputy commissioner and returning officer for the by-election, said all preparations for conducting a free fair poll have been completed.

Border Guard Bangladesh deployed is patrolling the constituency along with RAB and police.

Shoyeb Ahmed, deputy commissioner (headquarter) Barisal Metropolitan Police, said about 5,000 members of different law enforcing agencies including 4,400 police and Ansar, 180 BGB, 180 RAB, 130 Coast Guard and 10 mobile teams would be engaged for maintaining law and order on the election day BGB will act as a striking force to help other law enforcing agencies in maintaining law and order until Monday.

Ballot papers and ballot boxes are being sent to the polling centres.  Election officials are getting ready to perform their duty, the Returning Officer said.

The constituency has a total of 342,228 eligible voters.