A total of 38 candidates contested the parliamentary elections in six constituencies of Khulna.
While six candidates were elected and another six emerged as runners-up, 26 candidates failed to secure the minimum required votes to retain their deposits, according to Election Commission rules.
Under the regulations of the Bangladesh Election Commission, a candidate must obtain at least one-eighth of the total valid votes cast in a constituency to retain their security deposit. Those who fail to meet this threshold forfeit their deposit.
The unofficial results were announced late at night on Thursday by Khulna District Administrator and Returning Officer for Khulna-1, 2, 4, 5, and 6 constituencies, ASM Jamshed Khondoker, and by Khulna Regional Election Officer and Returning Officer for Khulna-3, Faisal Kader.
Khulna-1
Out of 307,103 registered voters in 120 centers, 210,899 votes were cast. To retain the deposit, a candidate needed 26,362 votes.
BNP candidate Amir Ezaz Khan won the seat with 121,352 votes. His nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Krishna Nandi, secured 70,346 votes.
Ten other candidates failed to secure one-eighth of the total votes and consequently lost their deposits.
Khulna-2
In this constituency, 189,284 votes were cast out of 335,243 registered voters across 158 centers. The minimum required to retain the deposit was 23,660 votes.
Jamaat-e-Islami’s Sheikh Jahangir Hossain Helal won with 93,789 votes, while BNP’s Nazrul Islam Monju received 88,197 votes.
Islami Andolon Bangladesh candidate Amanullah, who received 7,298 votes, lost his deposit.
Khulna-4
Out of 378,453 registered voters in 145 centers, 246,816 votes were cast. A candidate needed 30,852 votes to retain the deposit.
BNP central leader S.K. Azizul Bari Helal won with 123,162 votes. His closest rival, Khelafat Andolon candidate Mawlana Sakhawat Hossain, received 109,530 votes.
Two candidates failed to meet the required vote threshold and forfeited their deposits.
Khulna-5
In 151 centers, 298,209 votes were cast from 397,703 registered voters. The required number of votes to retain the deposit was 37,276.
BNP candidate Ali Azgar Lobby won with 148,854 votes, narrowly defeating Jamaat-e-Islami’s Mia Golam Parwar, who secured 146,246 votes.
Two candidates failed to retain their deposits.
Khulna-6
Out of 423,332 registered voters in 156 centers, 288,191 votes were cast. To retain the deposit, a candidate needed 36,023 votes.
Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Abul Kalam Azad won with 150,724 votes, while BNP’s SM Monirul Islam Bappi received 124,710 votes.
Three candidates failed to secure the minimum required votes and lost their deposits.
Khulna-3
In this constituency, 152,245 votes were cast out of 254,409 registered voters in 116 centers, marking a 59.84 percent turnout. The required votes to retain the deposit stood at 19,030.
BNP central leader Rokibul Islam Bokul won with 74,845 votes. Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Mohammad Mahfuzur Rahman secured 66,010 votes as the runner-up.
Six other candidates failed to obtain the minimum required votes and forfeited their deposits.
Overall, 26 out of 38 candidates across the six Khulna constituencies were unable to secure one-eighth of the total valid votes cast and consequently lost their election deposits.