BNP regains stronghold in south

Returning officers announced results for all 21 parliamentary seats in Barishal division in the early hours today (13 February) after daylong voting yesterday that passed without major clashes or violence.

The BNP secured a clear majority in the region. Of the 21 seats, BNP candidates won 16 directly, while alliance nominees secured two. The party lost in only three constituencies.

Party leaders said the results mark a recovery of BNP's traditional stronghold in Barishal.

Bilkis Jahan Shireen, BNP's organising secretary (Barishal Division), said the party would now work in unity for regional development.

"We had promised the chairperson that we would deliver the Barishal division to the BNP. Through the tireless efforts of our leaders and activists, we achieved an unprecedented victory," she said.

She added that BNP members of parliament would continue to fulfil their commitments and work for the development of their constituencies.

Barishal-3 (Babuganj-Muladi) winner Advocate Zainul Abedin said the BNP has regained the trust of the people.

"Voters placed their confidence in us and ensured our victory. We are fortunate to receive such support from the people," he said.

He added that their only priority now would be to serve the public.

According to the regional election office, BNP candidates won all six constituencies in Barishal district by large margins.

In Barishal-1 (Gournadi-Agailjhara), BNP candidate Zahir Uddin Swapon secured 100,552 votes. His nearest rival, Md Kamrul Islam Khan, who contested with the "Scales" symbol, received 46,263 votes.

In the same constituency, 112,208 votes were cast in favour of "Yes" in the referendum, while 73,289 voted "No."

In the Barishal-2 (Wazirpur-Banaripara) constituency, Sardar Sarfuddin Ahmed Santu has been declared the winner with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 141,622 votes.

His nearest rival, Abdul Mannan, running with the "Scales" symbol, received 74,082 votes. In this constituency, 134,278 "Yes" votes and 80,966 "No" votes were cast.

In the Barishal-3 (Muladi-Babuganj) constituency, Advocate Zainul Abedin won with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 80,930 votes. His nearest rival, 11-party alliance-supported Asaduzzaman Bhuiyan (Fuad) of the AB Party, received 61,192 votes with the "Eagle" symbol. In this seat, 122,305 "Yes" votes and 40,663 "No" votes were cast.

In the Barishal-4 (Hizla-Mehendiganj) constituency, BNP's Rajib Ahsan won with 128,322 votes, while his closest rival, Abdul Jabbar, running with the "Scales" symbol, received 74,684 votes. The seat also recorded 143,900 "Yes" votes and 64,511 "No" votes.

In the Barishal-5 (Sadar Upazila) constituency, BNP's Mojibur Rahman Sarwar secured 135,146 votes and won. On the other hand, his closest opponent, Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, received 95,044 votes with the "Hand Fan" symbol. The seat recorded 176,687 "Yes" votes and 69,384 "No" votes.

In the Barishal-5 (Sadar Upazila) constituency, Mojibur Rahman Sarwar secured seats with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 135,146 votes. Islami Andolan Bangladesh's Mufti Syed Faizul Karim received 95,044 votes with the "Hand Fan" symbol. In this constituency, 176,687 people voted "Yes" and 69,384 voted "No."

BNP's Abul Hossain Khan has been elected unofficially from the Barishal-6 constituency, securing 82,217 votes, while his nearest rival, Md Mahmudunnabi, got 55,988 votes. In this seat, 115,074 "Yes" votes and 41,700 "No" votes were recorded.

In the Barguna district, the two seats were split, with the BNP and Islami Andolan winning one each. This marks a historic moment with Islami Andolan securing its first-ever MP in the country's history.

According to Taslima Akter, deputy commissioner and returning officer of Barguna, Mahmudul Hossain Waliullah of Islami Andolan Bangladesh won the Barguna-1 (Sadar-Amtali-Taltali) seat. Running with the "Hand Fan" symbol, he secured 140,291 votes. His closest rival, Nazrul Islam Molla of the BNP, received 136,145 votes. In this constituency, voters cast 176,197 "Yes" ballots and 85,420 "No" ballots.

In the Barguna-2 (Bamna-Betagi-Pathorghata) constituency, Nurul Islam Moni has been elected with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 90,643 votes.

His nearest rival, Sultan Ahmed of Jamaat, received 85,247 votes. This seat also recorded 120,997 "Yes" votes and 57,474 "No" votes.
In Patuakhali, the BNP won two out of the four seats, while the BNP-led alliance and Jamaat won one seat each. According to the Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Dr Md Shahid Hossain Chowdhury, Altaf Hossain Chowdhury won the Patuakhali-1 (Mirzaganj-Dumki-Sadar) seat. Representing the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, he got 152,087 votes.

His closest rival, Md Firoz Alam of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, received 58,161 votes under the "Hand Fan" symbol. In the referendum held alongside the election, this constituency recorded 153,092 "Yes" votes and 89,268 "No" votes.

Jamaat's candidate secured a victory over the BNP's candidate in the Patuakhali-2 (Bauphal Upazila) constituency. Their candidate, Shafiqul Islam Masud, won the seat with 100,750 votes under the "Scales" symbol. His closest rival, BNP's Sahidul Alam Talukdar, received 72,676 votes. In the same seat, voters cast 113,100 "Yes" and 61,005 "No."

In the Patuakhali-3 (Dashmina-Galachipa) constituency, Nurul Haque Nur – representing the BNP-supported Gono Odhikar Parishad – secured a win with 97,323 votes.

His closest rival was the independent candidate Md Hasan Mamun, who received 81,361 votes. This seat recorded 131,114 "Yes" votes and 76,554 "No" votes.

In the Patuakhali-4 (Rangabali-Kalapara) constituency, BNP's ABM Mosharraf Hossain emerged victorious with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 124,013 votes.

His closest rival, Mostafizur Rahman of Islami Andolan Bangladesh, received 70,127 votes. This seat also recorded 125,458 "Yes" votes and 61,889 "No" votes in the referendum.

The BNP successfully retained both seats in the Jhalakathi district. In Jhalakathi-1 (Rajapur-Kathalia), BNP candidate Rafiqul Islam Jamal secured the win with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, polling 62,010 votes.

His nearest rival, Jamaat's Dr Fayzul Huq, received 55,120 votes under the "Scales" symbol. The constituency also recorded 91,286 "Yes" votes and 29,591 "No" votes in the referendum.

In Jhalakathi-2 (Sadar-Nalchity), BNP candidate Esrat Sultana Elen Bhutto won with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 113,419 votes.

Her closest rival, Jamaat's Sheikh Neamul Karim, received 70,556 votes under the "Scales" symbol. In the referendum, this constituency recorded 147,297 "Yes" votes and 53,890 "No" votes.

In Pirojpur district, the BNP secured two out of the three available seats, while the remaining seat was won by Jamaat's candidate. Notably, Shameem Sayedee, the eldest son of the late Delwar Hossain Sayeedi, was defeated by a BNP candidate in his respective race.

According to data provided by the district returning officer, in Pirojpur-1 (Sadar-Indurkani), the late leader's younger son, Masood Sayedee, emerged victorious with the "Scales" symbol, polling 132,659 votes. His closest competitor, Alamgir Hossain of the BNP, received 107,105 votes with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol.

In Pirojpur-2 (Kawkhali-Bhandaria), BNP's candidate Ahammad Sohel Manzur emerged victorious with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, securing 105,185 votes.

He defeated his closest rival, Shameem Sayedee, who received 96,897 votes.

In the Pirojpur-3 (Mathbaria) constituency, Ruhul Amin Dulal has been unofficially declared the winner. Representing the BNP with the "Sheaf of Paddy" symbol, he secured 63,791 votes.

His nearest rival, Shamim Hamide of the NCP, running with the "Shapla Koli" symbol, received 36,616 votes.

Faridul Islam, Barishal regional election officer, said that the elections were conducted very peacefully across the Barishal division. 

"The February 12 poll is a historic event. I don't know if an election has ever been held this smoothly before," he said.

He added that the candidates raised no objections regarding the voting process and expressed his hope that this positive electoral culture would continue in the future.