Supporters of defeated BNP candidate Emdadul Haque Bhorsa staged demonstrations and blocked roads in Rangpur-4 Haragachh, Kaunia and Pirgachha, demanding a recount of votes.
The protesters announced that they would lay siege to the Deputy Commissioner’s office at 11am on Sunday.
Around 12:30pm on Saturday, they blocked the Rangpur-Dinajpur regional highway at Kaunia bus stand, where Bhorsa also sat on the road.
They chanted slogans during the blockade, which disrupted road communication between Dhaka and Lalmonirhat and Kurigram for nearly two and a half hours.
At around 3pm, Kaunia Upazila Nirbahi Officer and Assistant Returning Officer Papia Sultana visited the spot and held talks with Bhorsa.
He later withdrew the blockade, saying he would remain respectful of the law, and law enforcement agencies cleared the stranded vehicles, restoring normal traffic.
Before calling off the protest, Bhorsa alleged that his result had been altered through “election engineering” by officials concerned.
He demanded an immediate recount and warned that he would resume agitation if there was any delay in vote counting.
Meanwhile, the constituency’s elected Member of Parliament and NCP Member Secretary Akhtar Hossain alleged that BNP activists violated the code of conduct by taking to the streets with sticks, setting fire on roads and causing public suffering, and by attacking and vandalising the houses of his supporters.
Returning Officer Mohammad Enamul Ahsan said a decision on recounting would be taken in accordance with Election Commission rules.
He added that allegations of creating public suffering and breaching the code of conduct would also be examined under the law.
Rangpur Metropolitan Police Commissioner Md Majid Ali said legal action would be taken over incidents of vandalism and attacks on police.
