BNP’s Mirza Faisal Amin wins Thakurgaon-1 by-election with 227,917 votes

BNP candidate Mirza Faisal Amin, younger brother of President Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, won the Thakurgaon-1 by-election today (29 October) with 227,917 votes.

His nearest rival, Delawar Hosen of the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance, secured 96,513 votes, while voter turnout stood at 64.81%.

Quamrul Islam, the returning officer for the by-poll and Thakurgaon district election officer, announced the results.

The polling saw a 64.81% voter turnout.

According to the results, Islami Andolan Bangladesh-backed Khademul Islam secured 3,289 votes, Bangladesh Khelafat Andolan-backed Abdul Alim Nizami received 836 votes, while Bangladesh Congress candidate Muhammad Omar Farukh got 450 votes.

Earlier in the day, voting ended peacefully amid tight security.

Polling began at 8am at 185 polling centres across Thakurgaon Sadar, Ruhia and Bhulli upazilas.

Election Commission (EC) Senior Secretary Akhtar Ahmed expressed satisfaction over the peaceful completion of the by-election as no reports of unexpected incidents were reported throughout the day.

“We have completed a good election in a peaceful environment with everyone’s cooperation,” he said at a post-balloting briefing at the EC building in the capital’s Agargaon area in the afternoon.

“I believe you also have no such information that could make us concerned,” he said, thanking everyone for their cooperation in holding the election peacefully.

Rejecting the EC’s claim to hold a fair election, Jamaat-e-Islami alleged widespread irregularities, mismanagement, intimidation and partisan conduct, including claims that some ballot papers were stamped and signed in advance.

Party’s Secretary General Mia Golam Porwar made the allegations at a press briefing at its central office in Moghbazar today.

He alleged that the stubs of some ballot books had been stamped and signed in advance for vote rigging.

Faisal Amin voted at Thakurgaon Government Girls’ High School polling centre around 8am and said, “We will achieve an absolute victory, Inshallah.”

His rival Delawar voted at Hajipara Adarsha High School in Thakurgaon municipality, urging voters to go to polling centres and exercise their voting rights.

Nearly 515,853 voters, including 257,219 men, 258,630 women, and four third-gender voters, were expected to cast their votes.

A total of 287 voters were also registered to vote through postal ballots.

Authorities deployed around 5,300 personnel from different law enforcement agencies and the administration to ensure a peaceful and fair by-election.

Nine polling officials were withdrawn from their election duties following allegations that they directly or indirectly supported the ruling party.

The officials were replaced after the allegations surfaced, Returning Officer Kamrul Islam told reporters on Wednesday night.