Saad Ershad wins Rangpur-3 by-election

Jatiya Party's Rahgir Al Mahi alias Saad Ershad was unofficially declared elected in the Rangpur-3 by-polls on Saturday, reports UNB.

Saad Ershad, son of late Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad, bagged 58,878 votes while his nearest rival Rita Rahman of BNP bagged 16,947.

Returning officer and regional election officer Shahtab Uddin announced the results in the evening.

He said the voter turnout in the by-election was 22.86 per cent.

Earlier, voting in the by-election was held peacefully.

The constituency fell vacant following the death of Jatiya Party chairman HM Ershad on 14 July.

The election commission announced schedule for the by-polls on 1 September.

Four more candidates -- independent candidate Hossain Mokbul Shahriar Asif, NPP's Shafiul Alam (mango), Gano Front's Kazi M Shahidullah Bayazid (fish) and Khelafat Majlish's Towhidur Rahman Mandal (wall clock) - were also on the election race.

Ruling Awami League withdrew its candidates in support of the Jatiya Party contestant.