Bangladesh
Dhaka-17 By-polls 'Boat' wins Dhaka-17 by-election
Dhaka, July 18: The ruling Awami League nominated candidate Mohammad Ali Arafat has won the Dhaka-17 parliamentary seat by-election. He was elected unofficially by getting 28,816 votes in the boat symbol. His nearest rival independent candidate Ashraful Hossain Alam alias Hero Alam got 5,609 votes in Ektara symbol. According to this, Arafat defeated Hero Alam by a margin of 23,207 votes.
The final result of 124 centers was announced by the returning officer Md. Munir Hossain Khan after 9:00 pm on Monday (July 17). According to the announced results, the Jatiya Party's Plow symbol candidate Sikdar Anisur Rahman is in the third position by getting 1,328 votes among the other six candidates who contested the election. Apart from this, Zaker Party's Rose Flower symbol candidate Kazi Md. Rashidul Hasan got 923 votes, Bangladesh Cultural Liberation Jot's Saree symbol candidate Md. Aktar Hossain 64 votes, Bangladesh Congress Dub symbol Md. Rezaul Islam Swapan 43 votes, Trinamool BNP's Sonali Ansh symbol candidate Sheikh Habibur Rahman. 202 votes and independent candidate Md. Tarekul Islam Bhuyan got 52 votes in truck symbol.
The total number of voters in Dhaka-17 constituency is 3 lakh 25 thousand 205. Among them 1 lakh 71 thousand 625 male and 1 lakh 53 thousand 580 female voters. Voting began at 8 am in 605 polling stations in 124 centers and continued till 4 pm. Counting begins after polling. All the centers vote on ballot papers.
After 5 pm on this day, the results of various centers started coming slowly. The returning officer announced the final results of 50 centers first and 108 in the second phase, 120 in the third phase and then 124 centers.
Earlier, after polling started at 8 am, the turnout of voters in various centers was very low. The people in charge of polling are seen spending idle time. It was thought that the turnout will increase as the day progresses. But even though it was noon, various centers were very empty. Election related officials also expressed disappointment with such low voter turnout.
However, some of the candidates said that as this by-election is for a short period, the interest of the voters is low. So many people did not come to the polling station. On the other hand, BNP did not participate in the by-election. As a result, the ruling Awami League candidate did not have a strong rival candidate.
