The Bangladesh Election Commission (EC) has announced that elections for the Bogra-6 and Sherpur-3 parliamentary constituencies are scheduled to take place before the onset of the Bengali New Year on 14 April 2026. This decision was confirmed by Election Commissioner Abdur Rahmanel Masud during a press briefing at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Agargaon on Sunday.
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Strategic Timing Amidst Seasonal Weather
The Commissioner emphasised that the primary motivation for concluding the polls before the middle of April is to avoid the volatile weather conditions typically associated with Pohela Boishakh. “Usually, the Bengali New Year coincides with the ‘Kalboishakhi’ (Nor’wester) storms and heavy rainfall,” Commissioner Masud noted. “To ensure a smooth voting process and high turnout, we are making every effort to hold the ballots before the festive period begins.”
Context of the Vacant Seats
The two constituencies in question have unique circumstances necessitating this round of voting. Bogra-6 was declared vacant after Tarique Rahman, the Chairman of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), chose to vacate the seat. Mr Rahman had secured victories in both Bogra-6 and Dhaka-17 during the 13th General Election held on 12 February 2026, electing to represent the latter.
Conversely, the election in Sherpur-3 was postponed due to the untimely death of a candidate during the general election cycle, requiring a fresh schedule and new balloting procedures.
| Constituency | Reason for Election | Voting Deadline |
| Bogra-6 | By-election (Seat vacated by Tarique Rahman) | 14 April 2026 |
| Sherpur-3 | Postponed Poll (Candidate demise) | 14 April 2026 |
| Reserved Seats | Proportional Representation | May 2026 (90-day window) |
Postal Ballots and Reserved Seats
Regarding the logistical arrangements, the EC confirmed that postal ballots have already been dispatched to eligible voters in Sherpur-3. For Bogra-6, the Commission is preparing to send fresh ballots to expatriate voters and those entitled to vote by mail.
Furthermore, Commissioner Masud addressed the upcoming elections for reserved women’s seats. Under the current legal framework, these elections must be completed within 90 days of the newly elected Members of Parliament taking their oaths. “Political parties have already begun their internal nomination processes,” he stated. “The Commission will officially declare the schedule shortly, and those nominated by the representative parties in Parliament will be elected according to the established ratios.”
Local Government and Party Symbols
A major point of discussion involved the future of local government elections, specifically the use of political party symbols in mayoral races. The EC is currently awaiting a definitive decision from the newly formed Parliament regarding the status of the ordinance that previously sought to abolish party-based symbols in local polls.
“An ordinance was issued during the interim period to revert local elections to a non-partisan format,” Masud explained. “Now that Parliament is in session, it is up to the lawmakers to either ratify this ordinance into law or restore the previous partisan system. Our future operational plans, including the schedule for the Dhaka City Corporation elections, depend entirely on this legislative outcome.”