Bangladesh polls: Tensions flare as Dhaka-8 vote counting sparks dispute between BNP, NCP

Dhaka-8 vote counting dispute escalates

Late Thursday night, tensions rose outside the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, which also functions as the returning officer’s office, as supporters of rival candidates gathered, Prothom Alo reported.

Supporters of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas assembled near the main gate around 10:45 pm, chanting slogans declaring him the winner. Inside the office were Abbas’s wife, Afroza Abbas, and leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), which backs rival candidate Nasiruddin Patwary.

Police maintained a cautious presence, while army personnel later arrived amid the mounting tension.

Out of 109 polling centres in Dhaka-8, results from 33 centres had been announced at the time, showing Mirza Abbas with 16,790 votes and NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patwary with 15,470 votes.

Inside the returning officer’s office, Afroza Abbas remained with several party leaders. BNP officials said she sought recognition of certain cancelled votes as valid and requested recounts in select centres.

NCP leaders arrived later in the night. Nasiruddin Patwary’s chief election agent, Shahin Ahmed Khan, told reporters that pressure was being applied to validate rejected ballots in centres including Siddheshwari Boys’ High School, Motijheel Ideal College, and Eskaton Garden.

Khan further claimed that while results from some centres had been shared with agents, attempts were underway to influence recounting and delay official publication.

Patwary also posted on his verified Facebook account alleging that results from certain centres were being withheld.

Counting was ongoing at the time of reporting, and no official final results had been declared.