AL candidate wins by-polls in Gaibandha-3

Awami League candidate Younus Ali unofficially won the 11th parliamentary polls from Gaibandha-3 yesterday, defeating his nearest contestant Jatiya Party's (Ershad) Dilara Khandker Shilpi.

Younus bagged 1,21,163 votes while Shilpi got 24,385, declared Abdul Matin, returning officer of the constituency.

Along with the two, SM Khadimul Islam Khudi of Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal, Mizanur Rahman Titu of National People's Party and independent candidate Abu Zafar Muhammad Jahid contested the polls.

Suspecting vote rigging, three aspirants -- Moniul Hasan Sadik of BNP, Shafiqul Islam of Socialist Party and Hanif Dewan of Islam and Islami Andolon -- withdrew their candidacy on January 10, the last day of candidacy withdrawal.

Earlier on December 23, the Election Commission suspended voting in Gaibandha-3 following the death of BNP-led 20-party candidate TIM Fazley Rabbi Chowdhury on December 20, 10 days ahead of previously scheduled date, and declared January 27 as fresh date.

Amid tight security, the voting took place in 132 polling stations of the constituency with a 39.17 percent voter turnout rate.

With this, the number of total seats won by Awami League-led alliance increased to 289 in the 11th parliamentary polls.