JP candidate Shamim wins Gaibandha-1 by-polls

GAIBANDHA, Mar 14 (UNB): Jatiya Party candidate Barrister Shamim Haidar Patwary was unofficially declared the winner of the by-polls to the Gaibandha-1 constituency on Tuesday.

According to the results announced, Shamim bagged 78,926 votes while his nearest rival Afruza Bari, of Awami League, secured 68,913 votes, said returning officer GM Sahatabuddin.

The voting continued from 8am until 4pm amid tight security without any break at 109 polling stations for a total of 338,000 voters.

Elite force Rapid Action Battalion, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), police and Ansar remained deployed at polling centres to ensure peaceful holding of the polls.

The parliamentary seat fell vacant following the death of Gaibandha-1 MP Golam Mostafa on December 19 from the injuries he suffered in a road accident a month earlier.

Earlier on March 22, 2017, another by-election was held in the constituency which fell vacant following the murder of ruling Awami League lawmaker Manzurul Islam Liton in December, 2016.