AL-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah wins Barishal city polls

Awami League-backed mayoral candidate Abul Khair Abdullah (Khokon Serniabat) won the Barishal City Corporation election with 87,807 votes, according to unofficial results of all the 126 centres.

Humayun Kabir, returning officer of the Barishal City Corporation election, unofficially announced the results at the district’s Shilpakala Academy at around 9:45pm on Monday.

Abul Khair defeated his nearest rival, Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Mufti Syed Mohammad Faizul Karim (Handfan), by 53,979 votes. Mufti Faizul Karim bagged 33,828 votes.

Meanwhile, Abul Khair said he will implement the promises made in the election manifesto in phases.

Among other candidates, Jatiya Party’s mayor candidate Engineer Iqbal Hossain Taposh (Plough) got 6,665 votes, independent mayor candidate (Table clock) Md Kamrul Hassan Rupon bagged 7,999 votes, Zaker Party candidate (Rose) Md Mizanur Rahman Bachhu got 2,546 votes.

A total of 142,177 voters—among 276,297 eligible voters – casted their ballots in Barishal city polls.

The voter turnout in Barishal was recorded at 51.46%, according to the returning officer.

Voting in the BCC election began at 8 am and continued till 4 pm without any break. Electronic voting machines were used at all the centres to cast votes.

Seven mayoral candidates, 119 general councillor candidates and 42 reserved councillor candidates participated in the Barishal city polls.

About 4500 members of law enforcement agencies, 10 platoons of BGB, 30 executive magistrates, and 10 judicial magistrates performed duty during the polls.