'No' vote wins in 6 seats in greater Chattogram

While the 'Yes' vote dominated nationwide in the referendum held alongside the 13th parliamentary election, the 'No' vote secured decisive victories in six constituencies across greater Chattogram.

In all three seats of the Chittagong Hill Tracts, a large number of voters opposed the July charter. Additionally, the 'No' vote won by significant margins in three constituencies in Chattogram district - Chattogram-8, Chattogram-12, and Chattogram-13.

At the same time, in the five districts of greater Chattogram - Chattogram, Cox's Bazar, Bandarban, Rangamati, and Khagrachhari - BNP candidates won 21 out of 23 seats, while nominees backed by Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami secured victory in only two.

Political analysts believe that despite BNP Chairman Tarique Rahman calling for a 'Yes' vote, local leaders in Chattogram continued campaigning for the 'No' side, and the addition of votes from Awami League supporters contributed to the higher 'No' count.

According to the latest unofficial results, in Rangamati, 273,800 out of 509,267 voters took part in the referendum. Of them, 179,805 cast 'No' votes and 71,719 voted 'Yes', while 22,276 ballots were rejected.

In Khagrachhari, 343,314 out of 555,113 voters participated. Among them, 155,942 voted 'No' and 144,355 voted 'Yes', with 43,017 ballots declared invalid.

In Bandarban, 163,429 out of 315,422 voters cast their votes. Of these, 90,156 voted 'No' and 71,417 voted 'Yes', while 1,865 ballots were rejected.

In Chattogram-8 (Boalkhali–Chandgaon), 261,047 out of 554,729 voters took part. Among them, 131,493 voted 'No' and 116,423 voted 'Yes', while 13,131 ballots were invalidated.

In Chattogram-12 (Patiya), 193,493 out of 352,695 had cast their votes. Of these, 126,814 voted 'No' and 57,318 voted 'Yes', while 4,821 ballots were rejected.

In Chattogram-13 (Anwara–Karnaphuli), 221,035 out of 395,246 voters participated. Among them, 124,629 voted 'No' and 80,580 voted 'Yes', while 7,360 ballots were invalid.

Notably, in all six of these constituencies, BNP-nominated candidates won parliamentary seats by large margins, according to unofficial results.

About 68% people who voted in the referendum, voted for 'yes'. Off all the people who voted in the referendum, 4,80,74,429 people voted for 'Yes', while 2,25,65,627 people voted 'No', disclosed Senior Secretary of the Election Commission Akhter Ahmed.

Voter turnout in the parliamentary election was 59.44% while participation in the referendum was 60.26%, said Akhter Ahmed while announcing the unofficial results of the 13th National Parliamentary Election and the nationwide referendum at a press briefing at the Bangladesh Election Commission office.

He said results from 297 out of 299 constituencies have been declared unofficially.

Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) clinched the victory in 209 parliamentary seats, while Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami won in 68 constituencies.