2021 Chattogram City Corporation election

Mayoral election in Bangladesh

2021 Chattogram City Corporation election

* * *

| <- 2015 | 27 January 2021 | 2026 ->

|
|

Registered| 19,38,706
Turnout| 22.52%(25.38pp)

Mayoral election

|  | 27 January 2021 |

|
|

|  |  |

|
|

Nominee  | Rezaul Karim Chowdhury | Dr. Shahadat Hossain |
Party  | AL | BNP
Popular vote  | 3,69,248 | 52,489
Percentage  | 84.79% | 12.05%

* * *

| Mayor before election

A. J. M. Nasir Uddin

| Elected Mayor

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury

|

Council election

27 January 2021
55 seats in the Chattogram City Corporation[a]
28 February 2021 (Re-election in 1 seat)
| Party | Leader  | Seats  | +/–

|
|
|

AL | Rezaul Karim Chowdhury | 42  | −4
BNP | Dr. Shahadat Hossain | 0  | −7
Jamaat-e-Islami | —  | 0  | −2
Independent | —  | 13  | +13

This lists parties that won seats. See the complete results below.

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The 2021 Chattogram City Corporation election was a local government election in the city of Chattogram, Bangladesh, held on 27 January 2021 to elect the Mayor of Chittagong and the Chittagong City Council. [1][2][3]This election was marred by violence and it was not seen as a free,fair and credible election.

## Background

[edit]

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is the governing body responsible for the administration of Chattogram, the second-largest city in Bangladesh.[4] The term of the previous mayor, A. J. M. Nasir Uddin, elected in 2015, ended in 2020.[5] The election was originally scheduled to take place in March 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]

## Candidates

[edit]

The election was mainly contested between candidates of the two major political parties in Bangladesh:

List of mayoral candidates  Party  | Flag  | Symbol  | Candidates

|
|
|

| Bangladesh Awami League |  |  | Rezaul Karim Chowdhury
| Bangladesh Nationalist Party |  |  | Dr. Shahadat Hossain

Other minor candidates from smaller parties and independent candidates also participated.

List of councillor candidates  Ward  | Awami League | BNP

|
|

#  | Name  | Party  | Candidate  | Party  | Candidate
1  | South Pahartali |  | AL | Gazi Md. Shafiul Azim  |  | BNP | Sirajul Islam Rashed
2  | Jalalabad |  | AL | Mohammad Ibrahim  |  | BNP | Md. Yakub Chowdhury
3  | Panchlaish |  | AL | Kofil Uddin Khan  |  | BNP | Mohammad Elias
4  | Chandgaon |  | AL | Md. Saifuddin Khaled  |  | BNP | Mahabubul Alam
5  | Mohra |  | AL | Mohammad Kazi Nurul Amin  |  | BNP | Mohammad Azam
6  | East Sholashahar |  | AL | M Ashraful Alam  |  | BNP | Hasan Liton
7  | West Sholashahar |  | AL | Md. Mobarak Ali  |  | BNP | Iskandar Mirza
8  | Sholokbahar |  | AL | Md. Morshed Alam  |  | BNP | Hasan Chowdhury
9  | North Pahartali |  | AL | Nurul Absar Mia  |  | BNP | Abdus Sattar Salim
10  | North Kattali |  | AL | Nishar Uddin Ahmed  |  | BNP | Rafiq Uddin Chowdhury
11  | South Kattali |  | AL | Mohammad Ismail  |  | BNP | Sohrab Hossain Chowdhury
12  | Saraipara |  | AL | Md. Nurul Amin  |  | BNP | Shamsul Alam
13  | Pahartali |  | AL | Md. Wasim Uddin Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Jahangir Alam Dulal
14  | Lalkhan Bazar |  | AL | Abul Hasnat Md. Belal  |  | BNP | Abdul Halim
15  | Bagmaniram |  | AL | Mohammad Gias Uddin  |  | BNP | Chowdhury Saifuddin Rashed Siddiqui
16  | Chawkbazar |  | AL | Syed Golam Haider Mintu  |  | BNP | AKM Salahuddin Kausar Labu
17  | West Bakalia |  | AL | Mohammad Shahidul Alam  |  | BNP | AKM Ariful Islam
18  | East Bakalia |  | AL | Mohammad Harun or Rashid  |  | BNP | Mohammad Mohiuddin
19  | South Bakalia |  | AL | Md. Nurul Alam  |  | BNP | Yasin Chowdhury
20  | Dewan Bazar |  | AL | Chowdhury Hasan Mahmud Hasni  |  | BNP | Hafizul Islam Majumdar Milon
21  | Jamal khan |  | AL | Shaibal Das Sumon  |  | BNP | Abu Md. Mohsin Chowdhury
22  | Enayet Bazar |  | AL | Mohammad Salim Ullah  |  | BNP | M.A. Malek
23  | North Pathantooly |  | AL | Mohammad Javed  |  | BNP | Mohammad Mohsin
24  | North Agrabad |  | AL | Nazmul Haque Duke  |  | BNP | SM Faridul Alam
25  | Rampur |  | AL | Abdus Sabur Liton  |  | BNP | Shahid Md. Chowdhury
26  | North Halishahar |  | AL | Mohammad Hossain  |  | BNP | Md. Abul Hashem
27  | South Agrabad |  | AL | Md. Sheikh Zafrul Haider Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Mohammad Sekandar
28  | Pathantooly |  | AL | Nazrul Islam Bahadur  |  | BNP | SM Jamal Uddin Jasim
29  | West Madarbari |  | AL | Golam Mohammad Zobair  |  | BNP | Md. Salah Uddin
30  | East Madarbari |  | AL | Ataullah Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Habibur Rahman
31  | Alkaran |  | AL | Md. Abdus Salam  |  | BNP | Didarur Rahman Labu
32  | Andarkilla |  | AL | Jahar Lal Hazari  |  | BNP | Syed Abul Basar
33  | Firingee Bazar |  | AL | Mohammad Salahuddin  |  | BNP | Aktar Khan
34  | Patharghata |  | AL | Pulak Khastagir  |  | BNP | Ismail Bali
35  | Boxirhat |  | AL | Haji Nurul Haque  |  | BNP | Advocate Tariq Ahmad
36  | Gosaildanga |  | AL | Jahangir Alam Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Mohammad Harun (Doc)
37  | North Middle Halishahar |  | AL | Md. Hossain Murad  |  | BNP | Mohammad Osman
38  | South Middle Halishahar |  | AL | Golam Md. Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Hanif Saudagar
39  | South Halishahar |  | AL | Ziaul Haque Sumon  |  | BNP | Sarfraz Quader
40  | North Patenga |  | AL | Abdul Barek  |  | BNP | Mohammad Harun
41  | South Patenga |  | AL | Saleh Ahmad Chowdhury  |  | BNP | Md. Nurul Afshar
Reserved Women’s Councillor
42  | Reserved women's seat-1  |  | AL | Syeda Kashpia Nahrin,  |  | BNP | Roksana Begum
43  | Reserved women's seat-2  |  | AL | Zobaira Nargis Khan  |  | BNP | Shahenewaz Chowdhury Minu
44  | Reserved women's seat-3  |  | AL | Zohra Begum  |  | BNP | Jinnatun Nesha Jinu
45  | Reserved women's seat-4  |  | AL | Tashlima Begum Nurjahan  |  | BNP | Sakina Begum
46  | Reserved women's seat-5  |  | AL | Shiuli Dey  |  | BNP | Monoara Begum Moni
47  | Reserved women's seat-6  |  | AL | Shaheen Akhtar Rozi  |  | BNP | Mahmuda Sultana Jharna
48  | Reserved women's seat-7  |  | AL | Rumki Sengupta  |  | BNP | Advocate Parveen Akhter Chowdhury
49  | Reserved women's seat-8  |  | AL | Neelu Nag  |  | BNP | Arjun Nahar Manna
50  | Reserved women's seat-9  |  | AL | Noor Akhtar Prama  |  | BNP | Khaleda Borhan
51  | Reserved women's seat-10  |  | AL | Hoore Ara Begum  |  | BNP | Jasmina Khanom
52  | Reserved women's seat-11  |  | AL | Jinnat Ara Begum  |  | BNP | Kamrun Nahar Liza
53  | Reserved women's seat-12  |  | AL | Afroza Zahoor  |  | BNP | Sahida Khanom
54  | Reserved women's seat-13  |  | AL | Lutfunnesa Dobash Baby  |  | BNP | Monoara Begum
55  | Reserved women's seat-14  |  | AL | Shahanur Begum  |  | BNP | Zahida Hossain

## Electoral Process

[edit]

The election was conducted using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all 735 polling stations in the city.[7] Around 1.92 million voters were registered to cast their vote.[8] This was one of the first large-scale uses of EVMs in local elections in Bangladesh, a move that was both praised and criticized by various political parties.[9]

## Mayoral election results

[edit]

The results were announced later in the evening on January 27, 2021.[10] Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the Awami League candidate, won the mayoral race by a wide margin, receiving approximately 369,248 votes,[11] while Shahadat Hossain of the BNP garnered 52,489 votes.[12]

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury succeeded A. J. M. Nasir Uddin as mayor of Chattogram.[13] The Awami League also secured the majority of the councilor positions in the 41 wards of the Chattogram City Corporation.[14]

Candidate| Party| Votes| %

|
|
|

| Rezaul Karim Chowdhury| Bangladesh Awami League| 369,248| 84.79
| Dr. Shahadat Hossain| Bangladesh Nationalist Party| 52,489| 12.05
| Md. Jannatul Islam| Islami Andolan Bangladesh| 4,980| 1.14
| Abul Manzoor| National People's Party| 4,653| 1.07
| M A Matin| Bangladesh Islami Front| 2,126| 0.49
| Muhammad Waheed Murad| Islamic Front Bangladesh| 1,109| 0.25
| Khokon Chowdhury| Independent| 885| 0.20
Total| 435,490| 100.00
Valid votes| 435,490| 99.76
Invalid/blank votes| 1,053| 0.24
Total votes| 436,543| 100.00
Registered voters/turnout| 1,938,706| 22.52
Source: [1]

## Council election results

[edit]

### Party-wise

[edit]

2021 CCC council election results (party-wise)

Party  | Leader  | Councilor contested seats  | Councilor elected in Seats  | Ward Councilors  | Reserved Women Councilors
| Bangladesh Awami League | Rezaul Karim Chowdhury | 55  |

42 / 55

| 33  | 9
| Independent | unknown  |

13 / 55

| 8  | 5
Total  | 55  | 41  | 14

## Violence

[edit]

The election day was marked by reports of violence in multiple wards across the city. Several clashes were reported between supporters of the ruling Awami League and the opposition BNP.[15] In one such incident, a polling agent of a BNP-backed councilor candidate was killed, prompting further criticism of the law enforcement agencies and the fairness of the electoral process.[16]

According to local media reports, around 20 people were injured in election-related violence,[17] and allegations of vote rigging and irregularities were rampant.[18] Despite these issues, the Election Commission of Bangladesh declared the election successful and largely peaceful.[19]

## Aftermath and Reactions

[edit]

After the Chattogram City Corporation Election of 2021, reactions were deeply divided. The ruling party, the Awami League (AL), celebrated the victory of their candidate, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury.[20] They claimed that the election had been conducted fairly and that the result represented the will of the people of Chattogram. Rezaul Karim, in his post-election statements, promised to continue the development projects started by the previous mayor, A. J. M. Nasir Uddin.[21]

On the other hand, the opposition, particularly the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), rejected the election results outright. They accused the Awami League of voter suppression, vote rigging, and using law enforcement to intimidate opposition supporters.[22] Shahadat Hossain, the BNP candidate, demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities and called for the election results to be annulled.[23] The BNP also organized protests, claiming that the use of electronic voting machines (EVMs) had made it easier to manipulate the results in favor of the ruling party.[24] Shahadat Hossain's call for investigation was rejected and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was sworn in as the 6th Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation on 11th February 2021.[25] Rezaul Karim couldn't fulfill his term as Sheikh Hasina's regime fell in 2024 amid mass protests.[26] On 19th August, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, along with the mayors of other city corporations, was removed from his position and replaced by the Divisional Commissioners.[27]

## Notes

[edit]

1. ^ Of the total 54 seats, one was won uncontested.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ "Chattogram City Polls Jan 27". New Age. Retrieved 15 December 2020.
2. ^ "Rezaul Karim Elected Chittagong City Mayor". Dhaka Tribune. January 28, 2021.
3. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury wins CCC Mayoral polls". Dhaka Tribune. January 28, 2021.
4. ^ "Chattogram City Corporation: Overview". Chattogram City Corporation. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
5. ^ "A. J. M. Nasir Uddin's Tenure Comes to an End". The Daily Star. 2020-12-31.
6. ^ "Chattogram City Election Postponed Amid COVID-19 Fears". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
7. ^ "Chattogram City Corporation Election: EVMs Used in All Polling Stations". bdnews24. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
8. ^ "1.92 Million Registered Voters for Chattogram City Corporation Election". The Daily Star. 2021-01-27.
9. ^ "First Large-Scale Use of EVMs in Bangladesh Local Elections". Dhaka Tribune. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
10. ^ "Chattogram City Corporation Election Results Announced". The Daily Star. 2021-01-27.
11. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Wins Chattogram Mayor Election". The Dhaka Tribune. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
12. ^ "Shahadat Hossain Receives 52,489 Votes in Chattogram Election". BDNews24. 2021-01-27. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
13. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Succeeds Nasir Uddin as Chattogram Mayor". New Age. Retrieved 2024-08-26.
14. ^ "Awami League Wins Majority of Councilor Positions in Chattogram". The Financial Express. 2021-01-27.
15. ^ "Violence Erupts During Chattogram City Corporation Election". The Daily Star. 2021-01-27.
16. ^ "BNP Polling Agent Killed in Election Violence". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-01-27.
17. ^ "20 Injured in Chattogram City Election Violence". BDNews24. 2021-01-27.
18. ^ "Allegations of Vote Rigging in Chattogram City Election". The Financial Express. 2021-01-27.
19. ^ "Election Commission Declares Chattogram City Election Successful". The Daily Star. 2021-01-27.
20. ^ "Awami League Celebrates Rezaul Karim Chowdhury's Victory". The Daily Star. 2021-02-01.
21. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Promises Continuation of Development Projects". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-02-01.
22. ^ "BNP Rejects Chattogram Election Results, Accuses Awami League of Irregularities". The Financial Express. 2021-01-28.
23. ^ "BNP Demands Investigation Into Election Irregularities". The Daily Star. 2021-01-28.
24. ^ "BNP Protests Against EVMs and Election Results". Dhaka Tribune. 2021-01-29.
25. ^ "Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Sworn In as Mayor". The Daily Star. 2021-02-11.
26. ^ "Sheikh Hasina's Regime Falls Amid Mass Protests". The Financial Express. 2024-08-20.
27. ^ "Bangladesh appoints administrators to lead 12 city corporations". BDNews24(Not reliable and ad of women). 2024-08-19.

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