Barishal Correspondent :
Senior Nayeb-e-Ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh (IAB), Mufti Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim, has filed a petition with the electoral tribunal seeking annulment of the results of the 2023 Barishal City Corporation (BCC) election and a declaring him as the elected mayor of BCC.
Faizul Karim, who contested the election with the “hand fan” symbol as the candidate nominated by IAB , finished the polls as placed in second.
The petition was submitted on Thursday afternoon at the Barishal City Electoral Tribunal under the court of the Senior Assistant Judge.
According to court sources, Judge Hasibul Hasan has receiving the petition kept in pending for further orders.
The petition was filed on behalf of Faizul Karim by his legal counsel, Advocate Sheikh Abdullah Nasir. Faizul Karim was present in court during the submission.
Speaking to reporters, Advocate Nasir said, “The court heard our arguments in support of the petition.
We have placed all the relevant evidence and logic before the court.
The matter is now pending for the judge’s decision.”
The petition alleges that during the June 12, 2023, city polls, Faizul Karim-running as the IAB mayoral candidate-was physically attacked by supporters of his opponent, the then ruling Awami League candidate Abul Khair Abdullah.
The incidenthappened during visiting the polling center at Sabera Khatun Secondary School in Ward 22. Faizul Karim sustained injuries in the assault.
Additionally, IAB polling agents were allegedly driven out of the polling center at Jagua College in Ward 25 of BCC.
The petition claims that such irregularities and attacks led to a manipulation of the vote count, showing Faizul Karim with 33,828 votes-fewer than he actually received-while declaring AL candidate Abul Khair Abdullah the winner with 87,808 votes.
The petition seeks to have Abul Khair Abdullah’s victory invalidated and demands that Syed Muhammad Faizul Karim be declared the rightful winner and mayor of Barishal City Corporation.
