Barisal by-polls now on June 15

The by-election in the Barisal-5 constituency that fell vacant following the death of Awami League MP Shawkat Hossain Hiron will be held on June 15 instead of June 12. The Election Commission on Wednesday rescheduled the by-polls without assigning any reason. Earlier on April 28, the commission announced the by-polls schedule for the constituency fixing the ballot for June 12. Only two candidates – Hiron’s wife Jebunnessa Afroj of Awami League and Saiful Islam Liton of BNF — are now in the election race as the last date for withdrawal of candidature expired on May 21. A total of 3,42,228 people are eligible to cast their votes at 159 polling stations in the election in the constituency that encompasses Barisal City Corporation (30 wards) and Barisal Sadar Upazila (nine union parishads), according to UNB.