BNP swept 182 of the 185 polling centres in Thursday’s Thakurgaon-1 by-election, but its overwhelming victory and the reported voter turnout of roughly 65 per cent have sparked mixed reactions among local voters, with some questioning the official figures and others attributing the landslide to development expectations.
BNP candidate Mirza Faisal Amin secured 2,27,917 votes, defeating his nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami’s Md Delwar Hossain, by 1,31,404 votes. Delwar received 96,513 votes. While Jamaat alleged widespread electoral irregularities and announced a protest rally for Saturday, the ruling BNP maintained that the election was conducted in a free, fair, and transparent manner.
Conversations with voters across Thakurgaon on Friday revealed sharply differing views regarding the outcome. Some attributed the BNP’s victory to its status as the ruling party, the political influence of the candidate’s family, and significant backing from local minority communities. Conversely, others questioned how the reported turnout reached 65 per cent when physical attendance at polling stations appeared sparse.
Rabiul, an autorickshaw driver who voted at the JP High School centre in Jagannathpur union, observed that voter attendance appeared unusually thin. While acknowledging that Faisal could have won, he noted that the scale of victory was difficult to accept. “Even many BNP supporters dislike him,” Rabiul remarked, adding that the Jamaat candidate had won his centre in the previous election but suffered a reversal this time.
Tuhin, another driver from Goreya union, alleged he saw a pre-stamped ballot paper when casting his vote. Expressing doubts over the final margin, he argued that the BNP candidate should not have secured such a massive victory even as the popular contender. Mohammad Shakib, a local hotel employee, similarly questioned the turnout, noting it was hard to reconcile Jamaat’s dramatic defeat after running a close race against Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir previously.
However, other voters viewed the result as a vote for economic stability. Sohel, an employee at Eco-Social Development Organisation, maintained the election was properly conducted, asserting that voters backed the ruling party to secure regional infrastructure projects. A local merchant in Thakurgaon Sadar suggested that Jamaat lacked a broad independent vote bank, noting that minority voters, faced with the Awami League’s absence, largely shifted towards the BNP for security.
First-time voter Saikat, a student at Notre Dame College in Dhaka, echoed that view, stating that traditional Awami League supporters coalesced behind the BNP.
Shah Nazmul, general secretary of the local chapter of Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), highlighted the political pedigree of Faisal’s family, whose father and brother previously represented the district, as a pivotal factor in consolidating public trust.
Jamaat leaders firmly rejected the election’s credibility. Thakurgaon district Jamaat Secretary Alamgir Hossain cited a glaring discrepancy between official turnout figures and the sparse crowds seen at polling stations, confirming that Jamaat would lead a protest procession on Saturday afternoon against alleged vote-rigging and intimidation.
Conversely, District BNP General Secretary Paygam Ali defended the poll’s integrity. While acknowledging that turnout was relatively low, he asserted that the result offered a clear endorsement of the party’s local initiatives, reiterating confidence that the victory would accelerate development across Thakurgaon.
Official Election Commission data confirmed the scale of the landslide: the BNP’s sheaf of paddy symbol prevailed in 182 centres, leaving Jamaat’s scales symbol victorious in only three. Delwar won Bandigarh Sher-e-Bangla High School by 47 votes, Danarhat Ansaria Fazil Madrasa by 257 votes, and Syedpur Government Primary School by 681 votes. He even suffered defeat at his home polling station, Hajipara Adarsha High School, losing by 583 votes.
Despite the fierce political dispute, the two main contenders displayed a brief moment of harmony on Friday morning. At approximately 11:45 am, newly elected MP Mirza Faisal Amin visited Delwar Hossain at his Hajipara residence carrying flowers and traditional sweets. The rivals embraced, promising mutual cooperation for the development of Thakurgaon.
While the cordial meeting highlighted personal political courtesy, underlying tensions remain acute across the constituency as Jamaat prepares to mobilize street protests while the BNP consolidates its parliamentary mandate.
