After Bogura, BNP clinches Sherpur-3 in by-election sweep

According to official results, Rubel secured 166,117 votes, defeating his nearest rival Masudur, who received 47,051

BNP candidate Mahmudul Haque Rubel has secured a massive victory in the Sherpur-3 by-election, marking another win for the party following its success in the Bogura by-poll.

Returning Officer and District Election Officer Mohammad Jahangir Hossain announced the results at 9:30pm on Thursday after a day of voting across the Sreebordi and Jhenaigati Upazilas.

According to the official results from all 129 polling centres, Rubel bagged 166,117 votes under the “Sheaf of Paddy” symbol.

His nearest rival, Jamaat-e-Islami candidate Md Masudur Rahman, received 47,051 votes with the “Weighing Scales” symbol.

Earlier in the day, the Jamaat candidate had announced a boycott of the polls, alleging "widespread irregularities" and ballot stuffing by BNP activists.

The third contestant, Mizanur Rahman of the Bangladesh Samajtantrik Dal-Marxist, managed only 403 votes under the “Scissors” symbol.

The returning officer confirmed a voter turnout of 52.19 percent out of a total of 413,377 registered voters in the constituency.

The election in Sherpur-3 was originally scheduled as part of the parliament election held on Feb 12, but was postponed following the death of the then-Jamaat candidate after the announcement of the schedule.