DHAKA: Awami League candidate Atiqul Islam has won the Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) mayoral by-elections by a wide margin, according to unofficial results.

In total 1295 centers, Atiqul bagged 839,302 votes with ‘boat’ symbol while his nearest rival Jatiya Party candidate Shafin Ahmed got 55,429 votes with ‘plough’ symbol.

Returning Officer of DNCC elections Md Abul Kashem announced the results after Thursday midnight.

Voting in the by-election to the mayoral post of Dhaka North City Corporation (DNCC) and polls to counsellor posts in its 18 new wards in DNCC and 18 new wards of Dhaka South City Corporation (DSCC) held from 8:00am to 4:00pm Thursday (Feb 28). 

As the counting began, the DNCC returning officer announced the results from Bangabandhu International Conference Center (BICC) part by part.

Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed said voting in the Dhaka city corporations polls ended in a fair and peaceful manner.

Earlier in the day, Shafin Ahmed alleged the trend of irregularities in the recent national-level elections has caused low turnout of voters in DNCC by-polls.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda and Home Minister Asaduzzman Khan Kamal said it is not duty of the Election Commission (EC) to bring voters to the polling centers from their homes.

However, the mayor post to DNCC was earlier held by Annisul Huq who passed away on Nov 30, 2017.

BDST: 0920 HRS, Mar 1, 2019
SI/RS