78 of 115 candidates in Ctg lose deposits
An Election Commission analysis shows candidates from Islami Andolan, Supreme Party, JSD, Insaniyat Biplob, Muslim League, Ganosamhati, Jatiyo Party, and independents lost deposits, as well as one each from Jamaat and NCP
In a significant blow to the candidates in the 13th national election in Chattogram, 78 out of 115 contestants across the 16 parliamentary constituencies in the district have lost their security deposits, meaning 68% of the contestants failed to secure the minimum required votes.
Under election law, candidates must secure at least one-eighth of the total valid votes cast to retain their deposit. Otherwise, the deposit is forfeited.
According to an analysis of results prepared by the Election Commission, among those who lost deposits were candidates from Islami Andolan, Supreme Party, JSD, Insaniyat Biplob, Muslim League, Ganosamhati, Jatiyo Party, and independents lost deposits, as well as one each from Jamaat and NCP
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Senior District Election Officer Md Bashir Ahmed said, "Under election law, if a candidate fails to secure one-eighth of the valid votes cast, their deposit will be forfeited. They will not get back the Tk50,000 deposited with the nomination papers."
The trend of mass forfeiture was observed across almost all seats in the region:
In Chattogram-1 (Mirsarai), a total of 224,120 votes were cast. To save their deposits, candidates required at least 28,000 votes. Consequently, five candidates – AKM Abu Yusuf (JSD), Ferdous Ahmad Chowdhury (Islami Andolan), Rezaul Karim (Insaniyat Biplob), Sheikh Zulfiqar Bulbul Chowdhury (Muslim League), and Syed Shahadat Hossain (Jatiya Party) – forfeited their deposits.
In Chattogram-2 (Fatikchhari), six out of seven candidates lost their deposits, including independent candidates Ahmad Kabir and Zinnat Akhtar, alongside Mohammad Golam Nowsher Ali (Janata Dal), Mohammad Zulfikar Ali Mannan (Islami Andolan), Rabiul Hasan (Gono Odhikar Parishad), and Shahzada Syed Saifuddin Ahmad (Supreme Party).
In Chattogram-3 (Sandwip), two out of four candidates, Amzad Hossain (Islami Andolan) and independent candidate Moahedul Maola, lost their deposits.
The situation in Chattogram-4 (Sitakunda, Akbarshah, and Pahartali) remains partially unresolved as the candidacy of BNP's Mohammad Aslam Chowdhury is currently under judicial review in the Appellate Division, leaving his results stayed.
However, Returning Officer data shows that seven candidates have already forfeited their deposits: ATM Parvez (GOC), Zahidul Alam (Ganosamhati Andolan), Zakaria Khaled (Nezame Islam Party), Didarul Maola (Islami Andolan), Mashiuddoula (Communist Party), Shahidul Islam Chowdhury (Supreme Party), and Sirajuddoula (Islami Front).
In Chattogram-5 (Hathazari and partially CCC), four out of six candidates lost their deposits: Matiullah Nuri (Islami Andolan), Muhammad Rafiqul Islam (Islamic Front), independent Mohammad Imam Uddin Riyad, and Ala Uddin (Labour Party).
In Chattogram-6 (Raozan), Nasir Uddin Talukdar of Ganosamhati Andolan was the only one among four candidates to lose his deposit.
In Chattogram-7 (Rangunia), five out of eight candidates forfeited their deposits: Abdullah Al Harun (Islami Andolan), Promode Baran Barua (Communist Party), Abdur Rahman (AB Party), Belal Uddin (Gono Odhikar Parishad), and Mehedi Rashed (Jatiya Party).
In Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali-Chandgaon and partially Panchlaish-Bayezid), three out of six candidates failed to retain their deposits: Jobairul Hassan Arif (NCP), Mohammad Emdadul Haque (Insaniyat Biplob), and Mohammad Nurul Alam (Islami Andolan).
In Chattogram-9 (Kotwali-Bakalia), eight out of ten candidates lost their deposits: Abdul Momen Chowdhury (JSD), Abdus Shukur (Islami Andolan), Muhammad Wahed Murad (Islamic Front), Mohammad Naeed Uddin (Insaniyat Biplob), Nurul Abshar Majumder (Nagorik Oikya), Shafi Uddin Kabir (Socialist Party), Haider Ali Chowdhury (Janata Dal), and Syed Mohammad Hasan Maruf (Ganosamhati Andolan).
In Chattogram-10 (Khulshi-Pahartali-Halishahar), seven out of nine candidates forfeited their deposits: Asma Akhtar (Socialist Party-Marxist), Liakat Ali (Islamic Front), Jannatul Islam (Islami Andolan), Sabina Khatun (Insaniyat Biplob), independent Mohammad Arman Ali, Emdad Hossain Chowdhury (Jatiya Party), and Osman Gani (Labour Party).
In Chattogram-11 (Bandar-Patenga-Double Mooring), nine out of eleven candidates lost their deposits: Abu Taher (Jatiya Party), Deepa Majumder (Socialist Party-Marxist), Ujjwal Bhowmick (Ganaforum), Muhammad Abu Taher (Islamic Front), Nizamul Haque Al Kaderi (BASAD), Aziz Mia (Insaniyat Biplob), Nur Uddin (Islami Andolan), Nezamm Uddin (Gono Odhikar Parishad), and independent Mohammad Jahangir Bhuiyan.
In Chattogram-12 (Patiya), Mohammad Faridul Alam (Jamaat), SM Belal Noor (Islami Andolan), Farid Ahmad Chowdhury (Jatiya Party), Mohammad Abu Taleb Helali (Insaniyat Biplob), independent Muhammad Shakhawat Hossain, and M Yakub Ali (LDP) all lost their deposits.
In Chattogram-13 (Anwara-Karnaphuli), four out of seven candidates forfeited their deposits: Mohammad Emran (NDM), Rezaul Mustafa (Insaniyat Biplob), Abdur Rob Chowdhury (Jatiya Party), and Mujibur Rahman Chowdhury (Gono Odhikar Parishad).
In Chattogram-14 (Chandanaish and partially Satkania), six out of eight candidates lost their deposits: Maulana Solaiman (Islami Front), Badsha Mia (Jatiya Party), Abdul Hamid (Islami Andolan), independent Shafiqul Islam Rahi, Mizanul Haque Chowdhury, and H.M. Elias (Insaniyat Biplob).
In Chattogram-15 (Lohagara-Satkania), Shariful Alam Chowdhury (Islami Andolan) was among those who lost their deposits.
Finally, in Chattogram-16 (Banshkhali), four out of seven candidates forfeited their deposits: Abdul Malek (Islamic Front), Ehsanul Haque (Muslim League), Ariful Haque (Gono Odhikar Parishad), and Hafez Ruhullah (Islami Andolan).
