File photo of a woman putting her ballot paper in the ballot box after casting her vote Dhaka TribuneEC’s move to hold voting amid pandemic ‘politically-motivated’, says the partyThe BNP has decided to not take part in the July 14 by-polls to Bogra 1 and Jessore 6 parliamentary seats saying that voting amid the pandemic is unacceptable. He also said the Election Commission's decision to hold the by-polls amid cases coronavirus cases surging is ‘politically-motivated’. The by-polls to the two constituencies were originally slated for March 29, but were postponed after the coronavirus pandemic unfolded in Bangladesh earlier the same month. The commission said it has no option but to take such a decision as there is a constitutional binding to hold by-polls within 180 days after any constituency falls vacant. Bogra 1 and Jessore 6 constituencies fell vacant following the deaths of ruling party MPs Abdul Mannan on January 18 and Ismat Ara Sadique January 21 this year.

Source: Dhaka Tribune July 05, 2020 16:18 UTC