115 of 180 polling centres ‘risky’

Voting is scheduled to take place today, Thursday, in the Thakurgaon-1 parliamentary by-election, following an intense final round of campaigning in which candidates from the BNP and Jamaat-e-Islami traded accusations while promising development, good governance and a corruption-free society.

The contest has drawn particular attention as the two main rivals sought to consolidate voter support through rallies, roadside meetings, courtyard gatherings and door-to-door campaigning. Although minor complaints were reported during the campaign, a clash between supporters of the two parties in the district highlighted concerns over maintaining a peaceful electoral environment.

According to the Special Response Battalion (SRB), at least 115 of the 180 polling centres have been identified as risky.

*    Five candidates contesting
*    3500 security men deployed

The election campaign officially ended at 8am on Tuesday, October 27, ahead of Thursday’s polling. Authorities have deployed a substantial security contingent to ensure a free, fair and peaceful vote. 

Five candidates are contesting the by-election. They are BNP candidate Mirza Faisal Amin, contesting with the sheaf of paddy symbol; Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Delawar Hossain, with the scales symbol; Islami Andolan Bangladesh candidate Dr Khademul Islam, with the hand-fan symbol; Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan candidate Md Abdul Alim Nizami, with the banyan tree symbol; and Bangladesh Congress candidate Husain Muhammad Omar Faruk, with the duck symbol.

Mirza Faisal Amin, president of the Thakurgaon district BNP and younger brother of President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, has focused his campaign on infrastructure development, employment generation and maintaining the continuity of development initiatives.

He has pledged to work towards establishing a university, a medical college and an engineering institute in the district, as well as developing an export processing zone and reviving the Thakurgaon airport. He has also promised measures to address farmers' fertiliser shortages, including arrangements for open-market sales of chemical fertilisers.

“I want to maintain the continuity of development in this area and work to eliminate unemployment, build a drug-free society and make Thakurgaon a safer place,” Mirza Faisal Amin said during his campaign, urging voters to support him.

Jamaat candidate Delawar Hossain, backed by an 11-party alliance, has made transparency, accountability and the fight against corruption and extortion the central themes of his campaign.

He has pledged to ensure that public funds are distributed fairly and that information on government allocations for the district is published digitally and displayed in public places. He has also promised better healthcare facilities, including modern services for mothers and children, expanded employment opportunities for women and greater access to jobs for educated young people.

“I believe in the politics of justice and will work to establish justice if elected,” Delawar Hossain said, pledging to work towards a society free from extortion, corruption and discrimination.

The two candidates spent the final days of campaigning visiting different parts of the constituency. Mirza Faisal Amin held roadside meetings in Akhanagar and Chilarang union areas, while Delawar Hossain conducted courtyard meetings and rallies in Gareya and other areas.

Meanwhile, BNP and Jamaat supporters clashed at Laxmirhat Bazar in Borgaon Union under Bhulli Upazila while returning from an election procession. Several people were injured and admitted to Thakurgaon 250-bed General Hospital.

Despite the incident, officials said preparations had been made to maintain law and order during polling.

According to district election officials, around 5,300 personnel from different agencies have been assigned election duties. The deployment includes 2,272 police personnel, 21 platoons of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) and 2,405 Ansar members, alongside magistrates and other officials.

The security arrangements also include 25 executive magistrates, three judicial magistrates, 90 mobile and striking force units, 25 Election Commission observers, four foreign observers and 177 domestic and local observers.

Thakurgaon Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Kamrul Hasan said preparations had been completed and that the number of personnel deployed in the field was approximately three times higher than in previous elections. “We hope to hold a free, fair and peaceful election,” he said.

The Election Commission also directed that people who are not residents or voters of the constituency, and who are not involved in election duties must not remain in the electoral area from 8am on October 27 until 4pm on October 30. The restriction was imposed to prevent outside interference and ensure a peaceful polling process.
With campaigning over and security arrangements in place, attention has now shifted to voter turnout, compliance with electoral rules and whether polling can be completed peacefully.