Seventeen of the 25 candidates who contested the national election from parliamentary constituencies in Kushtia have got their election deposits forfeited, according to official figures.
Under rules set by the Election Commission, a candidate loses their deposit if they fail to secure at least one-eighth — or 12.5% — of the total votes cast in their constituency.
A total of 25 candidates, including one independent and nominees from 14 political parties, took part in the election across Kushtia’s four seats. The only female contender stood under the banner of the Bangladesh Republican Party.
The results highlight the strong showing of Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami in the district, with the party winning three of the four constituencies. The Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) secured the remaining seat.
Kushtia-1
In Kushtia-1, where 282,543 votes were cast, BNP candidate Reza Ahmed defeated Jamaat’s Belal Uddin.
Candidates who failed to reach the required threshold included JSD’s Md. Gias Uddin (star symbol), who received 203 votes; Bangladesh Islami Front’s Md. Badiruzzaman (candle symbol) with 241 votes; Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Aminul Islam (fan symbol) with 4,063 votes; independent candidate Md. Nuruzzaman Hablu Molla (cycle symbol) with 17,864 votes; Ganoadhikar Parishad’s Md. Shahabul Islam (truck symbol) with 613 votes; and JP’s Md. Shahriar Jamil (plough symbol) with 1,094 votes.
Kushtia-2
A total of 348,911 votes were cast in Kushtia-2. Jamaat candidate Md. Abdul Gafur defeated BNP’s Ragib Rauf Chowdhury.
Three candidates forfeited their deposits: Bangladesh Communist Party’s Nur Uddin Ahmed (spade symbol), who secured 80 votes; Islami Front Bangladesh’s Md. Babul Akter (chair symbol) with 1,123 votes; and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Ali (fan symbol) with 3,887 votes.
Kushtia-3
In Kushtia-3, Mufti Amir Hamza won the seat, defeating BNP’s Engineer Md. Zakir Hossain Sarker. Of the 321,323 votes cast, four candidates failed to retain their deposits.
They were BASAD’s Mir Nazmul Islam (moy symbol) with 442 votes; Bangladesh Republican Party’s Rumpa Khatun (elephant symbol) with 475 votes; Ganoadhikar Parishad’s Md. Shariful Islam (truck symbol) with 299 votes; and Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Md. Abdullah Akand (fan symbol) with 5,153 votes.
Kushtia-4
In Kushtia-4, where 308,260 votes were cast, Jamaat’s Md. Afzal Hossain defeated BNP’s Syed Mehdi Ahmed Rumi.
Among those forfeiting deposits were Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Anwar Khan (fan symbol) with 1,373 votes; Bangladesh Minority Jatiya Party’s Tarun Kumar Ghosh (rocket symbol) with 671 votes; Ganoforum’s Md. Abdul Hakim Miah (rising sun symbol) with 255 votes; and Bangladesh Labour Party’s Md. Shahidul Islam (pomegranate symbol) with 308 votes.