27 of 41 candidates forfeit deposits in five Narsingdi constituencies

In five parliamentary constituencies of Narsingdi, 27, of 41 candidates, forfeited their election deposits in the 13th parliamentary election held on February 12.

The figures are based on an analysis of unofficial results signed by Narsingdi District Commissioner and District Returning Officer Mohammad Anwar Hossain.

Under Bangladesh’s election rules, any parliamentary candidate who secures less than one-eighth (12.5%) of the total valid votes cast loses their deposit.

Among the five seats, Kazi Shariful Islam of Bangladesh Congress in Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo) received the lowest number of votes, 163. In the same constituency, the highest vote-getter was Sardar Shakhawat Hossain Bakul, vice-president of the district unit of the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), with 163,392 votes.

By constituency, six candidates forfeited deposits in Narsingdi-1 (Sadar), three in Narsingdi-2 (Palash), five in Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur), seven in Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo), and six in Narsingdi-5 (Raipura).

In Narsingdi-1 (Sadar), six of eight candidates lost deposits, including nominees from Jatiya Party, Gano Forum, Gono Odhikar Parishad, Bangladesh Islami Front and Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh.

In Narsingdi-2 (Palash), three candidates — from Islamic Front Bangladesh, Jatiya Party and Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh — forfeited deposits.

In Narsingdi-3 (Shibpur), those losing deposits included candidates from Zaker Party, Jatiya Party, Islami Andolon Bangladesh, Jamaat and Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh.

In Narsingdi-4 (Monohardi-Belabo), seven candidates forfeited deposits, including nominees from Janatar Dal, Bangladesh Congress, Communist Party of Bangladesh, Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh, Bangladesh Khelafat Majlish, Jatiya Party and Islami Andolon Bangladesh.

In Narsingdi-5 (Raipura), six candidates lost deposits, including independent contenders — among them a rebel BNP candidate — as well as nominees from Insaniyat Biplob Bangladesh, Bangladesh Islami Front and Jatiya Party.

All five seats in Narsingdi were won by BNP candidates, while contenders from an 11-party alliance gave them close competition. Candidates of Islami Andolon Bangladesh forfeited deposits in four constituencies.