But the RO and other officials could not clarify how quickly and in what manner the Pre-election Inquiry Committee, headed by a sub-judge, would solve any problem with regard to personal information of the candidates.

A High Court bench in a public interest litigation on May 24 directed the Election Commission to request eight kinds of information from an aspiring candidate so that the voters can have an idea about the candidates and make the right choice.

The by-election in Faridpur-1 constituency comprising three upazilas -- Alfadanga, Modhukhali and Boalmari -- will be held on August 30. The last date for submission of nomination papers is August 6 and the scrutiny will be held the following day.

Nasir Uddin, deputy commissioner of Faridpur, who will act as the returning officer, said the information about the candidates for this parliamentary by-election will be made public immediately after the scrutiny is done.

According to the HC directive, the aspiring candidates has to provide information about their educational qualification, whether they were accused in criminal cases, profession, sources of income, statement of assets and debt status of candidates and their dependants.

The information, to be furnished along with the nomination papers, will be published through notices, posters, leaflets, local newspapers and announcement in public places, said the RO.

"We will take all-out measures to make the elections fair and free from any interference and violence," he told The Daily Star.

There are 3,22,365 voters in the constituency and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is August 14, said District Election Officer Abdul Bari.

He said that anybody can have access to the candidate's information soon after the scrutiny of nomination papers.

To raise awareness about the newly introduced system, Sujan, a civil society body working for good governance, held meetings with the local Union Parishad chairmen and members, teachers, journalists and members of other professional groups in Faridpur on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The aim of the HC directive is to discourage criminals, loan defaulters and incompetent candidates from contesting the election, said Member Secretary of Sujan Dr Badiul Alam Majumdar, who is also the global vice-president and country director of The Hunger Project.

"Information about the candidate's track records will help the voters make right decision in the election," he said at a meeting at the Faridpur Zila Parishad Auditorium.

"The political parties must take into account the competence and character of a candidate while giving nominations," said Digrirchar UP Chairman Md Sadequzzaman. "Voters also have to create pressure on the two major political parties to nominate competent candidates."

"It is unfortunate that the country's political structure has been destroyed over the last 30 years as people having muscle power and black money are replacing the professional politicians," said Md Shahjahan, a retried professor.

About 50 to 65 percent of the existing voter lists are faulty, said Sharmeen Murshid, executive director of Brotee, an election watchdog and research organisation.

"Only 18 percent of the 39 percent votes cast in the Dhaka-10 by-election was genuine," she said, adding that politics today is dominated by businessmen and black money holders.

Democratic practice within the political parties is crucial for a meaningful election, said Abul Hossain, chairman of Islampur UP in Baliakandi at another meeting at Modhukhali Upazila Parishad auditorium.

Similar meetings were also held in Alfadanga and Boalmari Upazila yesterday, coordinated by Faridpur district convenor of Sujan Ahmed Hossain Mian.