19 candidates lose security deposits in Faridpur's four constituencies

The security deposits of 19 out of 28 candidates who contested in four constituencies of Faridpur district in the 13th National Parliamentary Election have been forfeited after they failed to secure the minimum required votes.

Voting in the four seats was held peacefully on Thursday (12 February), and unofficial results were announced the same night.

Although candidates from several political parties and independents took part, the main contests were largely between BNP and the Jamaat-led 11-party alliance.

Under Section 44 (3) of the Representation of the People Order (RPO), 1972, a candidate must obtain at least 12.5% of the total valid votes cast in a constituency to retain their security deposit.

Those who fail to do so forfeit the deposit, which is then transferred to the government treasury.

Faridpur-1 (Madhukhali, Boalmari, Alfadanga)

The constituency has 510,540 voters. Of the 318,998 valid votes cast, a candidate required 39,875 votes to retain the security deposit.

Md Elias Molla of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won the seat with 154,145 votes. Khandakar Nasirul Islam of BNP received 126,476 votes.

Among the others, independent candidates Md Abul Bashar Khan secured 34,387 votes, followed by Md Golam Kabir Mia (2,159), Md Hasibur Rahman (455), and Sheikh Abdur Rahman Zico (84). 

Additionally, Mrinmoy Kanti Das of the Bangladesh Minority Janata Party polled 786 votes, while Sultan Ahmed Khan of the Jatiya Party received 506.

Except for the Jamaat winner and the BNP candidate, the remaining six candidates forfeited their deposits.

Faridpur-2 (Nagarkanda, Saltha)

The total number of voters in this constituency was 332,041, with 214,916 valid votes cast. A minimum of 26,865 votes was required to retain the deposit.

Shama Obayed Islam Rinku of BNP won with 121,694 votes. Maulana Md Akram Ali of Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish received 89,305 votes.

Other candidates – Shah Md Jamal Uddin (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) got 2,368 votes, Faruk Fakir (Gono Odhikar Parishad) 675, Akramuzzaman (Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh) 617 and Md Nazmul Hasan (Bangladesh Congress) 257 votes.

All four of them forfeited their security deposits.

Faridpur-3 (Sadar)

This constituency has 432,621 voters. Of the 279,143 valid votes cast, 34,893 votes were required to retain the deposit.

Chowdhury Nayab Yusuf Ahmed of BNP won with 148,545 votes. Md Abdut Tawab of Jamaat-e-Islami secured 124,115 votes.

Among the remaining contestants, KM Sarwar (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) polled 4,022 votes, independent Morshedul Islam Asif 1,253, Md Rafiquzzaman Mia (Bangladesh Communist Party) 957, and Arifa Akter Baby (Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal received 251 votes.

These four candidates forfeited their deposits.

Faridpur-4 (Bhanga, Sadarpur, Charbhadrasan)

The constituency has 496,706 voters, with 274,992 valid votes cast. To retain the deposit, a candidate required 34,374 votes.

Md Shahidul Islam Babul of BNP won the seat with 127,443 votes. Md Sarwar Hossain of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami received 75,805 votes, while independent candidate AM Mujahid Beg secured 56,160 votes. These three candidates retained their deposits.

The remaining candidates — Md Ishaq Chokdar (Islami Andolan Bangladesh) received 11,498 votes, Muhammad Mojibur Hossain (Independent) 1,704, Mizanur Rahman (Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish) 1,118, Ataur Rahman (Bangladesh Communist Party) 714 and Mufti Raihan Jamil (Jatiya Party) 550 votes, and forfeited their deposits.

Overall results

In total, 1,771,908 voters were registered across the four constituencies, and 28 candidates contested the election. BNP won three seats – Faridpur-2, Faridpur-3 and Faridpur-4 – while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won Faridpur-1.

Faridpur Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Mohammad Kamrul Hasan Mollah said the security deposits of candidates who failed to secure the required number of votes would be deposited into the government treasury.