Awami League's Zafar Ali wins Baghaichharhi mayoral elections in new EC's first election

Ruling Awami League candidate Zafar Ali Khan has won Baghaichharhi municipality mayor's post in the first election conducted by the newly formed Election Commission.

The two other candidates in the election held on Saturday were Omar Ali of the BNP and independent candidate Azizur Rahman Aziz. 

Though Baghaichharhi in Rangamati became a municipality in 2004, the first administrator was selected by appointment.

Seven years later, independent candidate Alamgir Kabir was elected mayor. He then became a member of the BNP but did not take part in the latest elections due to family problems.

Rangamati District Election Officer Md Nazim Uddin announced the result around 7:15 pm on Saturday.

Zafar Ali, with Awami League's boat symbol, bagged 3,798 votes.

His closest rival Azizur Rahman Aziz, who fought as independent candidate got 2,227 votes. BNP candidate Omar Ali with paddy sheaf symbol got 1,798 votes.      

The municipality has 10,177 registered voters. They cast votes from 8 am to 4 pm at 33 booths in nine centres.

A returning officer supervised the team of election officials including a judicial magistrate, two executive magistrates, nine presiding officer and scores of police officers, Ansar-BGB and RAB officers during the election.

There was no report of violence during the election.

Twenty-five candidates have competed for nine seats in the general council, while six others for three reserved women councillor positions.

The election is the first overseen by the new Election Commission led by Nurul Huda.

The new commission was formed on Feb 6. The EC is tasked with overseeing the next five years of polls, including the general election due in early 2019.

The commission includes former additional secretary Mahbub Talukder, former secretary Rafiqul Islam, former district judge Kabita Khanam and former brigadier general Shahadat Hossain Chowdhury as election commissioners.

BNP has cast aspersions on the impartiality of the new EC from the very start of its term as they did with Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmad-led commission before.