Dhaka: The by-elections to the vacant mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and Kishoreganj-1 constituency will be held on February 28.

Besides, the by-polls to councillor posts of 36 new wards--18 in DNCC and 18 in Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC)--will be held on the same day, reports the UNB.

Election Commission Secretary Helaluddin Ahmed announced the schedule on Tuesday afternoon after a meeting of the Election Commission at the Nirbachan Bhaban.

According to the schedule of the city corporation elections, the last date for nomination submission is January 30 while the scrutiny will be held on February 2 and the last date for withdrawal of nomination is February 9.

An in Kishoreganj-1 by-election, the last date for submission of nomination papers is January 31, scrutiny on February 3, and the deadline for the withdrawal of nomination papers is February 10.

The announcement came following the High Court’s order that cleared the way to hold elections to the DNCC mayoral post and the councillor posts in the 36 new wards of DNCC and DSCC.

In January 2018, the EC had announced a schedule for by-elections to the DNCC mayoral post as well as 36 general councillor posts and 12 reserved councillor posts for the 36 new wards being added to the capital’s two municipalities–equally divided between the north and south.

Within days of the announcement though, the High Court stayed the by-elections following writ petitions filed with the court. The court’s order came a day before the deadline for submission of nomination papers.

The size of the DNCC electorate is just over 2.9 million, spread across its 54 wards.