Independent candidates dominate Rangpur city polls

Of the 33 councillor seats in the Rangpur city corporation, 15 were taken by independent candidates in Thursday’s elections. Jatiya Party won the mayor’s seat, but only obtained two councillor positions. Awami League took 11 seats and BNP took the remaining five. All of the reserved women councillor seats were won by independent candidates. Election officials said 283 candidates, including seven for the mayor post, 211 for 33 general councilor posts and 65 for 11 reserved female councilor posts, were in the fray. The 33 general councilors elected are: Rafikul Islam, Abul Kalam Azad, Mostafizur Rahman, Haradhon Chandra Roy, Mokhlesur Rahman Taru, Monwarul Islam Lebu, Mahfuzar Rahman Mafu, Mamunur Rashid Manik, Nazrul Islam Dewani, Laikur Rahman Nazu, Joynul Abedin, Rabiul Islam Ratan, Fazle Elahi Fulu, Shafikul Islam Mithu, Zakaria Alam Shiblu, Aminur Rahman, Abdul Gaffar Ali, Muntaseer Shamim Laiko, Mahmudur Rahman Titu, Tauhidul Islam, Mahbubur Rahman Majnu, Mizanur Rahman Miju, Sekendar Ali, Mir Jamal Uddin, Nurunnabi Fulu, Saiful Islam Fulu, Harunur Rashid, Rahamat Ullah Babla, Muktar Hossain, Malek Niaz Arzoo, Shamsul Alam, Abul Kashem and Sirajul Islam Siraj. Assistant Returning Officer for RpCC Election 2017 Kamrul Islam will hand over the names of the mayor-elect and councilors-elect to the Election Commission in Dhaka. Returning Officer for RpCC Election 2017 and Rangpur Regional Election Officer Subhash Chandra Sarkar said after gazette notification for the unofficially elected mayor and councilors is published, they will take their oaths and assume official charge.

Clash between supporters at Ward 8

At least 100 people were injured during a brawl between supporters of defeated ward councillor candidate in Rangpur city and police on Friday morning. Police charged batons when supporters of Anjum Kuthial, candidate of ward No 8, were protesting “vote rigging” and were on their way to lay siege to the office of the returning officer of the polls on the city’s central road area at 10am. Kuthial lost by two votes against Manik Mia in Thursday’s Rangpur City Corporation election. Babul Mia, officer-in-charge of Rangpur Sadar police station, said 17 people including Kuthial were arrested on the spot.