The seat fell vacant following death of Jamaat lawmaker Maulana Abdullah Al Kafi on September 12.

The district administration has taken all possible measures to hold the by-election in a free, fair and peaceful atmosphere, according to Dinajpur Election Commission (EC) Office sources.

At least 45 out of 122 polling centres in the constituency are vulnerable, according to Returning Officer (RO) Surutzzaman, also Deputy Commissioner (DC) of Dinajpur.

Around 1,400 members of law enforcement agencies including 400 army and BDR men have been deployed in the constituency since Sunday night for the purpose, the EC office sources said.

Six candidates are vying for the seat but nobody is contesting for the major opposition Awami League (AL).

The canditates are Maulana Aftab Uddin Mollah of Jamaat-e-Islami, Monoranjan Shil Gopal, a rebel candidate of Ershad-led Jatiya Party who is contesting as an independent candidate, Nasirul Haque Rustam and Shibli Sadeque of Nagorik Committee, Abdul Malek Sarker of Jatiya Party (JP-Ershad) and Mohammad Sadeque of Krishak Sramik Mukti Andolon.

Although six candidates are contesting the polls, the main battle is expected between Maulana Aftab Uddin Mollah and Monoranjan Shil Gopal, according to political circles and local people. JP candidate Md Abdul Malek Sarker may also be a factor for them.

Monoranjan Shil Gopal is being backed by AL and JP factions at Kaharol and Birganj upazilas. Former President and now Bikalpa Dhara chief Dr AQM Baduddoza Chowdhury and Gano Forum president Dr Kamal Hossain also extended their support to Gopal.

Ban on meetings and processions have been imposed since Saturday midnight.

There are 43 centres in Kaharol upazila and 79 centres in Birganj upazila while the number of voters is 2,33,818.

In support of the ruling alliance candidate, Fisheries and Livestock Resources Minister Abdullah Al Noman, Women and Children Affairs Minister Khurshid Jahan Haque, Social Welfare Minister Ali Ahsan Mujahid and State Minister for Civil Aviation and Toursim Mirza Fakrul Uddin Alamgir addressed two public meetings in the two upazilas on Thursday.