Ershad’s son Shad wins Rangpur 3 by-election

Rahgir Al Mahi Shad, son of late HM Ershad, was elected member of parliament on Saturday from Rangpur 3 constituency, defeating Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate Rita Rahman amid a poor turnout of voters in the by-polls.

Returning officer of the election GM Shahatabuddin unofficially made the declaration at police hall of the  city on Saturday evening.

He also said that some 94,006 votes were cast of the total 4,41,224 in 175 polling stations of Rangpur 3 constituency. The percentage of casting vote was 21.31, he added.

The constituency fell vacant at the death of Jatiya Party chairman HM Ersahd.

According to the unofficial results Jatiya Party’s Mahi Shad got 58,878, BNP’s Rita Rahman got 16,947 and the independent candidate Hossain Mokbul Asif Shahriar got 14,984.

Ruling Awami League did not contest in the polls as it extended its support to its grand alliance’s JP candidate.

The balloting ended on 5:00pm amid low turnout.

The election officials and the law enforcing members had to patiently wait for voters in most of the centres.

Very few voters were seen at Radhaballop, Mahigonj, Tajhat, Lalbag, Haridebpur, Nishbetgonj, Mominpur, Paglapir, Modern Mulatol, Senpara, Guptopara, Lalkuti vote centres.

Some 194 votes were cast at Mahigonj out of 2,479 votes till 11.30am.

Three of the booths remained vacant of the total four at Tajhat at 12.00am while only one people was casting vote at one booth and two others were waiting at that time.

The presiding officer of the vote centre, Faysal Ahamed, said voting was held peacefully but voters’ presence was very few and far between.

Presiding officer of Carmichael Collegiate School and College at Modern area of the city, Sahidar Rhaman, said that they found very few voters in the centre.

Only 145 votes were cast of the total 2,383 till 1:00am, he said.

The scenario was the same at Shiberbazar polling centre at Haridebpur union at 3.00pm. The election officials and the law enforcing members were mostly sitting idle.

Presiding officer Amir Hossain said that some 409 votes were cast of 4,102 till then.

Akhlak Hossain, assistant presiding officer at Homeopathy College polling centre at Guptopara of the city said that some 559 votes were cast in the centre out of the total 3,573.

Retired school teacher Banapali Pal said that people lost interest in voting, hence the lukewarm response. Also, they found no competent candidates in this election, he added. 

BNP candidate Rita Rahaman alleged that there was no level playing field in the election.

Police raided houses of our party activists in different areas of the city on Friday night, creating panic among them, she said.

‘We made a complaint to the returning officer over phone at night and in writing in the morning but he did nothing about it,’ she added.

Faced with the question of low turnout of voters, she said, ‘People have no confidence in electronic voting system.’

The winner Mahi Shad said that the voting was held peacefully and neutrally.

Mahi’s father HM Ershad died on July 14. The election commission declared by-polls on October 5.

There are 4,42,072 voters in Rangpur 3 constituency, of them 2,21,310 are male and 2,20,762 are female.

Voting was held in 175 polling stations through electronic voting machines.

News Courtesy: www.newagebd.net