In a significant development surrounding the Dhaka-8 constituency results, National Citizens’ Party (NCP) leader Nasiruddin Patwari, representing an 11-party alliance, has formally petitioned the Chief Election Commissioner to suspend the swearing-in of the constituency’s declared winner, Mirza Abbas, amid allegations of electoral malpractice.
The written appeal was submitted on Saturday, 14 February, to the Election Commission by NCP official Kazi Fakhrul Islam on behalf of Nasiruddin Patwari. The petition details alleged irregularities across 12 polling centres in the constituency, outlined comprehensively in eleven points.
According to Patwari, Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed—the candidate from the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) symbolised by the ‘Paddy Sheaf’—along with his family members, political supporters, and polling agents, engaged in various forms of electoral misconduct. These allegedly included exerting undue influence, rigging votes, incorporating previously invalidated ballots, and obstructing the timely announcement of results. Patwari further claimed that both presiding and returning officers were complicit, ultimately compromising the integrity of the vote count.
Patwari’s petition asserts that these irregularities directly contributed to Abbas being declared victorious, in violation of election laws and regulations. The NCP leader urged the Election Commission to investigate the claims thoroughly and take appropriate legal measures.
The Dhaka-8 seat has been under scrutiny since the commencement of the 13th parliamentary elections. The official results, announced following the 12 February polling, are summarised below:
| Candidate Name | Party / Symbol | Votes Received |
|---|---|---|
| Mirza Abbas Uddin Ahmed | BNP / Paddy Sheaf | 57,092 |
| Nasiruddin Patwari | NCP / Shapla Kali | 51,396 |
Based on these figures, Mirza Abbas secured victory with 57,092 votes, leading his nearest rival, Nasiruddin Patwari, by a margin of 5,696 votes.
Election analysts suggest that such formal petitions play a crucial role in maintaining transparency and upholding the legitimacy of the electoral process. Nasiruddin Patwari’s submission is expected to prompt the Election Commission to rigorously verify evidence and enhance oversight before issuing a final ruling.
Currently, the Election Commission is reviewing the petition and is considering the next steps in accordance with electoral law. Observers note that the decision could set an important precedent for handling election disputes in Bangladesh.