Tension At Dhaka-8 Counting Centre As BNP, NCP Trade Allegations Over Cancelled Votes

Last Updated:February 13, 2026, 03:53 IST

Tension flared in Dhaka-8 as Mirza Abbas and Nasiruddin Patwary supporters clashed over vote counting. Afroza Abbas and NCP leaders demanded recounts.

Tension mounted late Thursday night over vote counting in the Dhaka-8 constituency, with supporters of rival candidates gathering outside the Dhaka Divisional Commissioner’s office, which also serves as the returning officer’s office, according to a report by Prothom Alo.

Supporters of BNP candidate Mirza Abbas assembled outside the main gate around 10:45 pm, chanting slogans declaring him the winner of the constituency. Inside the premises were Abbas’s wife, Afroza Abbas, along with leaders of the National Citizen Party (NCP), the party backing rival candidate Nasiruddin Patwary.

Police maintained a cautious presence inside the gate, while army personnel later arrived at the scene amid rising tension.

Out of 109 polling centres in Dhaka-8, results from 33 centres had been declared at the time of reporting. Mirza Abbas secured 16,790 votes, while NCP candidate Nasiruddin Patwary received 15,470 votes.

Amid the dispute, Afroza Abbas entered the returning officer’s office and remained there along with several party leaders. BNP leaders claimed she had sought recognition of certain cancelled votes as valid and demanded recounting in select centres.

Later in the night, NCP leaders also arrived at the commissioner’s office.

Nasiruddin Patwary’s chief election agent, Shahin Ahmed Khan, alleged that pressure was being created to validate rejected ballots in centres including Siddheshwari Boys’ High School, Motijheel Ideal College and Eskaton Garden.

He further claimed that results from some centres had already been handed over to agents but that attempts were being made to influence recounting and delay official publication.

Patwary also posted on his verified Facebook page alleging that results from certain centres were being withheld.

Counting was still ongoing at the time of reporting, and no final official result had been declared.

News world Tension At Dhaka-8 Counting Centre As BNP, NCP Trade Allegations Over Cancelled Votes

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