Kushtia-4: BNP men stage protest demanding vote recount

Leaders and activists of the BNP staged a protest and laid siege to the district administration office in Kushtia, rejecting the election results of the Kushtia-4 (Kumarkhali-Khoksa) constituency and demanding a recount.

Thousands of party supporters from Kumarkhali and Khoksa upazilas gathered in front of the Kushtia Deputy Commissioner's office around 11:30am today (14 February).

They alleged that the results were manipulated through mob intimidation by Jamaat activists, and incorrect results were published, taking signatures before vote counting. They also alleged irregularities during the counting process.

The protesters demanded immediate suspension of the results and warned of tougher programmes if swift action is not taken.

Following the rally and procession, BNP candidate Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi submitted a written complaint to the deputy commissioner and returning officer.

Attempts to reach Deputy Commissioner and District Returning Officer Iqbal Hossain by phone for comment were unsuccessful.

Among those present at the protest were former Khoksa upazila BNP president and former upazila chairman Syed Amjad Ali, general secretary Anisuzzaman Swapan, former joint general secretary of Kumarkhali upazila BNP Nawab Ali, former joint convener and district bar association general secretary Advocate SM Shatil Mahmud, among others.

In the Kushtia-4 constituency, Jamaat candidate Md Afzal Hossain, contesting with the 'scales' symbol, was declared the winner by a margin of 7,630 votes, securing 1,46,204 votes. His nearest rival, BNP candidate Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi, received 1,38,574 votes.

The constituency has a total of 4,24,416 registered voters across 152 polling centres.