The Awami League (AL)-backed mayoral candidate, Jahangir Alam, has won the Gazipur City Corporation (GCC) election that was held on Tuesday.

Returning officer Rakib Uddin Mondol announced the unofficial poll results yesterday. According to the results, Jahangir Alam (Boat symbol) got 400,010 votes, while the BNP-nominated candidate, Hasan Uddin Sarker, got 197,611 votes.  The Election Commission (EC) postponed voting at nine centres, with an electoral strength of 24,000, following complaints of irregularities such as snatching of ballot boxes and stuffing of ballot papers by force.

According to the EC, 648,749 votes were cast at 416 centres. Of them, 18,638 were cancelled for various reasons. As a result, the total number of valid votes stood at 630,111.

The newly elected mayor arrived at the Bangataz auditorium, where the EC had set up the returning officer’s office, around 12.15 pm yesterday. He was accompanied by a large number AL leaders, activists and supporters. Later, he took the result sheets from the returning officer and thanked him as well as the EC for holding a peaceful election.

“I thank all the peoples of Gazipur for giving me such a big responsibility. I will try to do my work with responsibility and honesty. I pray to God and seek help from all of you in this regard,” Jahangir said.

“I want to develop Gazipur as a modern city. I have already created a master plan and would implement it after discussions with everyone. I also seek co-operation from my senior party leaders,’ he added.

On the other hand, defeated BNP nominee Hasan Uddin Sarker demanded a mass hearing to be held by a Supreme Court judge on the city corporation election. He said that every political party and all patriots should protest against this election. “After the polls in Khulna and Gazipur, it would be a mistake to hold any other election under this government and the EC,” he added.