According to district election office, 650 army and paramilitary Bangladesh Rifles personnel with police would be deployed at various points of the constituency from today.

Some 50 magistrates, 6 upazila nirbahi officers and 25 officers-in-charge of police would be kept on duty to ensure a free and fair election, sources said.

Amidst the main opposition Awami League's boycott of the election, eight candidates including an independent one are contesting the poll. The AL stood off the by-election saying it would not be fair.

The contestants in the by-polls are ruling alliance nominee BNP candidate Reza Ahmed Bachchu, Abdul Halim (JP-Manju), Nazrul Islam (NAP-Bhasani), M Korban Ali (JP Naziur-Firoj), Azibur Rahman (JSD-Rob), Nazrul Islam (Muslim League), Abdul Khaleq (Freedom Party) and Shahidul Islam (independent).

A total 2,68,334 voters would vote at 101 polling centres under 14 unions of the constituency while 101 presiding officers, 535 assistant presiding officers and 1070 polling officers would conduct the election, EC sources added.