The New Nation - Internet Edition

BNP debacle talk of Chittagong city

Our Correspondent, Chittagong

The debacle of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party(BNP)-led four-party combine in the 9th parliamentary poll held on December 29 was talk of the port city on Tuesday as people everywhere were discussing the matter and trying to identify the reasons of the fiasco.

The officials in government and private offices in the port city hardly worked yesterday rather they were busy in discussion the shambles, the four-party combine-led by BNP suffered in the 9th parliamentary polls on Monday.

Many of the officials were absent in the offices, because they were seriously shocked at the worst debacle of the combine since its emergence. Many of the absentees were beneficiaries during the time of the four-party regime from 2001-2006. They seem, were unable to accept the stunning victory of the Grand Alliance headed by Awami league(AL). They supporters were trying to find out rigging in the voting and some of them were also fearing autocracy in the Grand Alliance government in absence of a strong opposition in the house.

Before the polling day, it was general perception in the port city that the AL has done a mistake bringing Ershad's JP in the fold. If it was not happened the AL candidates could do much better.

Many in the city consider it was a proper reply to BNP, which became near to autocrat as they least bothered for the public opinion while were in power. Moreover, it had conspired to grab power through election under a caretaker government headed by President Prof. Dr. Iajuddin Ahmed, a man loyal to BNP.

All six seats went to JP, AL with huge margins in Rangpur

BSS, Rangpur

The Jatiyo Party (Mohajote) and Awami League candidates won all six parliamentary seats with huge margins in Rangpur in the ninth parliamentary elections held on Monday.

According to the unofficial results declared by election officials, Mohajote candidate Mokbul Hossain Shahriar of Jatiya Party (JP) won Rangpur-1 seat bagging 1,68,989 votes and his nearest rival candidate of 4-party Alliance Abdul Ghani (Jamaat) got 36,586 votes.

Mohajote candidate Anisul Islam Mandal (JP) won Rangpur-2 seat bagging 1,66,271 votes while his nearest rival 4-party Alliance candidate ATM Azaharul Islam (Jamaat) got 36,586 votes.

Jatiya Party Chairman and former President Alhaj Hussein Muhammad Ershad won Rangpur-3 seat getting 2,39,046 votes while his nearest rival 4-party Alliance candidate Abdul Quaiyum Mandal (BNP) got only 19,640 votes.

Awami League candidate Tipu Munshi won Rangpur-4 seat bagging 1,18,807 votes while his nearest rival and Mohajote candidate Alhaj Karim Uddin Bharasha (JP) got 1,03,643 votes and 4-party Alliance candidate Alhaj Rahim Uddin Bharasha (BNP) secured third place bagging 63,777 votes.

Awami League candidate HN Ashiqur Rahman won Rangpur-5 seat bagging 1,24,684 votes while his nearest rival Mohajote candidate SM Fakhruzzaman (JP) got 1,03,148 votes and 4-party Alliance candidate Shah Mohammad Hafizur Rahman (Jamaat) got third place with 56,076 votes.

Former Prime Minister and Awami League President Sheikh Hasina won Rangpur-6 seat bagging 1,70,542 votes and her nearest rival 4-party Alliance candidate Noor Mohammad Mandal (BNP) got only 38,672 votes.

Sarwar declared elected after hours long drama

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Advocate Majibor Rahman Sarwar, BNP -led 4 party alliance candidate declared elected as the lawmaker for the Barisal-5 constituency in the election held on Monday, defeating AL-led 14 party candidate Col. (retd.) Zahid Faruk Shamim by a margin of 6,301 votes.

The media men and the political activists witnessed more dramatic changes of position of Sarwar who alleged 'election engineering' attempts of the result at 11:00 pm on Monday night and later accepted it at 1:10 am on early Tuesday.

Deputy commissioner and returning officer of Barisal suspended announcing the result since 8:30 pm Monday night from his control room which created rumor among the people and media men as the result of all centers were already collected by different sources including the Barisal Sadar Upazila Nirbahi Office.

However returning officer sat in a meeting with high civil and defence officials without accepting and declaring any result.

In the meantime allegation of attempts of election engineering was made by Sarwar in a press conference held at the election control room at 11:00 pm.

Sarwar himself went to the UNO office and collected the copy of the result from UNO at 11:30 pm.

When the media men contacted with the returning officer in this connection, he said that he is re-counting the result sheets of the all vote centers.

At last at 1:00 am early Tuesday night, after a long break of about 5 hours Mushfiq Ahmed Shamim, returning officer, returned to control room declared the result of Barisal-5 constituency.

According to his declared result Majibor Rahman Sarwar received 1, 05,694 votes out of 2, 38,147 votes caste in this constituency. His nearest rival AL candidate Col. (retd.) Zahid Faruk Shamim, received 99,393 votes and another rival Mufti Faizul Karim of Islami Andolon received 27,393 and more 1496 were cast as 'No' votes.

After declaring the result Sarwar thanked the role of media people for foiling ' election engineering' attempt and said that yet he was not satisfied with winning with a minimum margin of only 6301 votes which was too less than his previous margin of 56,027 in last election of 2001.

CEC visits poll centers in N'ganj

BSS, Narayanganj

Chief Election Commissioner Dr ATM Shamsul Huda visited a number of polling centers in the town this morning to see for himself the turn out of voters in the 9th parliamentary polls.

Expressing satisfaction over the huge turn out of voters he said the government has undertaken all out preparation to hold the poll in free fair and impartial manner.

He was informed by the election officials that the turn out of voters could exceed 75 percent this time. Returning officer deputy commissioner AMA Rahman accompanied the CEC during his visit.

Inspector General of Police Nur Muhammad also visited Tolaram Government College Center, Narayanganj Club Center and Gono Biddya Niketon in the afternoon.

Police Super Sardar Nurul Amin was present on the occasion. The IGP expressed satisfaction over the law and order situation in the district during the poll.

AL secures all 3 seats in Shariatpur

BSS, Shariatpur

Awami League candidate B M Muzammel Haque of Shariatpur-1 constituency was unofficially elected as member of the ninth parliament getting 1,17,386 votes. His nearest rival of the seat, independent candidate Mobrak Ali Sikdur got 56,853 votes while BNP candidate Shahidul Haq Sikder received 6,558 votes.

Shawkat Ali of AL of Shariatpur-2 was elected MP unofficially receiving 1,14,808 votes while his nearest rival M Shofiqur Rahaman (Kiran) of BNP got 80,096 votes. In Shariatpur-3 constituency, AL candidate Abdur Razzaq was elected MP unofficially getting 1,02,925 votes while his nearest rival K M Hemayet Ullah (Awrangajeb) of BNP got 52,672 votes.

AL bagged all 4 seats in Habiganj

Awami League candidate Dewan Farid Gazi of Habiganj-1 constituency was unofficially elected as member of the ninth parliament getting 1,52,080 votes, report BSS.

His nearest rival Sheikh Sujat Miah of BNP got 79,488 Votes. M Abdul Majid Khan of AL of Habiganj-2 was elected MP unofficially receiving 1,22,025 votes while his nearest rival of BNP AM Sakhawat Hasan Jibon got 67,059 votes.

In Habiganj-3 constituency, AL candidate M Abu Zahir was elected MP unofficially getting 1,47,827 votes while his nearest rival Abu Lais Md. Mubin Chowdhury of BNP got 57,260 votes.

AL Candidate Enamul Huq of Hahbiganj-4 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 1,55,896 votes and his nearest contestant of the seat S M Faisal of BNP got 1,24,788 votes.

Unofficial results of 10 Comilla seats

BSS, Comilla

Awami League candidate Mohammad Subid Ali Bhuiyan of Comilla-1 constituency was unofficially elected as member of the ninth parliament securing 1,14,818 votes. His nearest rival former health minister Dr Khandaker Mosharraf Hossain of BNP received 96,378 Votes.

MK Anwar of BNP of Coimilla-2 was unofficially elected MP receiving 94,105 votes while his nearest rival M Abdul Majid of AL got 76,666 votes.

In Comilla-4 constituency, AL candidate ABM Golam Mostafa was elected MP unofficially securing 1,15,056 votes while his nearest rival Mrs Mazeda Ahsan of BNP got 81,365 votes. AL candidate Abdul Matin Khashru of Comilla-5 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 1,43,208 votes and his nearest contestant ALM Alauddin Bhuiyan of BNP received 77,260 votes.

In Comilla-6 constituency, AL candidate AKM Bahauddin was elected MP unofficially getting 1,26,136 votes while his nearest rival Mohammad Amin-ur- Rashid Yasin of BNP got 1,02,450 votes. AL Candidate Prof M Ali Ashraf of Comilla-7 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 79,440 votes and his nearest contestant M Khorshed Alam of BNP got 73,933 votes. AL candidate Nasimul Alam Chowdhury of Comilla-8 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 1,41,428 votes and his nearest contestant Zakaria Taher of BNP received 1,21,887 votes. In Comilla-9 constituency, AL candidate M Tajul Islam was elected MP unofficially getting 1,17,748 votes while his nearest rival M Anwar-ul Azim of BNP got 1,17,290 votes. AL Candidate AHM Mustafa Kamal of Comilla-10 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 1,38,089 votes and his nearest contestant M Mobashwer Alam Bhuiyan of BNP got 89,821 votes.

AL candidate M Mujibul Haq of Comilla-11 constituency was declared MP unofficially by getting 1,01,201 votes and his nearest contestant Syed Abdullah Mohammad Taher of Jamaat-e- Islami received 77,924 votes.

Rabi crops cultivation hit by foggy weather

BSS, Narsingdi

The cultivation of different Rabi crops including vegetables in the district has been affected by cold wave and foggy weather during the last one week and it may be hit the production target of these in the current season. Agriculture official sources said due to cold wave and foggy weather at least 25 per cent of the standing Rabi crops and winter vegetables have been attacked by "fungus" diseases in the district.

An agriculture expert said farmers should take necessary steps to save the Rabi crops and winter vegetables.

24 held with drug in Joypurhat

BSS, Joypurhat

Police in separate drives arrested 24 persons including four suspected criminals on various charges from different places in five upazilas of the district during the last 48 hours till on Friday morning. Police sources said the arrested persons were absconding warrantees, cheats, accused persons in different cases, drug peddlers, and other anti-social elements.

Police also recovered 11 bottles of Indian phensidyl, 23 pieces of smuggled Indian sari and other illegal objects during the drives.

The arrested persons were sent to jail hajat before police produced them different courts of Joypurhat, the sources added.

Sarwar visits residence of rival candidate

Our Correspond, Barisal

Advocate Mojibur Rahman Sarwar, district BNP president and former mayor of BCC, who won the parliamentary election on Monday, made a courtesy call on AL candidate he defeated Col. (ret) Zajid Farooque Shamim at Nabagram Road residence.

Shamim greeted Sarwar, who was elected lawmaker for the fourth time, and expressed his heart felt sympathy. Sarwar sought cooperation of Shamim in performing his duty as a lawmaker and help for implementation of development programme in the constituency BariaL-5.

Activists and leaders of of the Grand Alliance and four-party combine praised the courtesy call by Sarwar. They said the courtesy meet was a symbol of healthy election competition and peaceful coexistence in politics.

The move also cooled eased the tension in the area. Sarwar got 105,694 votes, while his nearest rival Grand Alliance candidate Shamim bagged 99,393 votes.

Gopalganj Anti-Corruption body meet held

Our correspondent, Gopalganj

A review meeting of the Corruption Resistance Committee of Gopalganj was held recently at the auditorium of Gopalganj Government Bangabandhu University College organized by the unit.

Prof. Mohammad Atiar Rasul, president of the body presided over the meeting, which was addressed, among others, by Prof. Mohammad Akramuzzaman, General Secretary of the body, Prof. Enamul Kabir, and Vice-president of the committee Advocate Golam Rasul(Raja).

The speakers urged all for resisting corruption, the great vices of the society, from their respective positions. The corruption was the great obstacle in development of the country.

They observed the corruption must be uprooted from the society once for all to make the country a developed one.

UP chairman convicted for violating election code in Patuakhali

Our Correspondent, Barisal

Chairman of Keshabpur Union Parishad(UP) of Patuakhali-2 was sentenced two year in prison with hard labour and fined him Taka 5,000, in default, to serve more two months in prison.

Nripoti Kumar Biswas, a senior judicial magistrate and leader of a mobile court gave the punishment to Taslim Alam Talukder, brother of former BNP lawmaker Shahidul Alam.

The anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) arrested Talukder from Mominpur School polling center under Baufal Upazila of the district on Monday for violating election rules creating disturbances and harming free fair voting.

AL candidates win all three seats in Manikganj

UNB, Manikganj

Awami League candidates won all the three seats in Manikganj in parliament Monday's parliament elections.

In Manikganj-1 BNP secretary general Khandaker Delwar Hossain suffered a defeat to Awami League candidate Anwarul Huq in Manikganj-1 seat.

Anwarul Huq got 1,47,221 votes and Delwar got 1,019,56 votes.

Votes.

In Manikganj-2 FA Moin of JP won by securing 1,48,203 votes against his nearest rival Afroza Khan Rita of BNP who bagged 1,26,443 votes.

In Manikganj-3 AL candidate Zahid Malek Swapan of Awami League won by bagging 1,30,111 votes by defeating BM Moin of BNP who got 92,216