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Half of candidates lose deposits

Most had no party backing

SHAKHAWAT LlTON
Over a half of the total 8,090 candidates in the just concluded upazila parishad elections lost their security deposits due to dismal performances, and almost all of them did not get any major political party’s backing.
The results show most of the winning candidates who are now entitled to refunds of their security deposits, were also backed by either of the two major political parties - Awami League (AL) and BNP, although the elections were non-partisan according to the law.
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The electoral law stipulates that a candidate must secure a minimum of one-eighth of the total votes cast for a post, to gel a refund of the security deposit made at the time of filing the application for candidacy.
The candidates ran for three posts of upazila chairman, vice-chairman and vice-chairwoman (reserved) in each of the 475 upazila parisahads, to which the elections were held on Thursday, bringing a landslide victory for ruling party AL backed candidates, amid reports of irregularities.
Almost all other party backed candidates also managed to save their security deposits from forfeiture, even if they failed to win, most of whom happened to be backed by BNP.
A total of 3,304 candidates ran for 475 posts ofchairmen in as many upazilas.
The number of candidates for 475 vice-chairmen posts was 2,868, and 1,918 candidates ran for 475 reserved posts of vice-chairwomen. Polls to six upazila parishads were postponed.
The result sheets disclosed by the Election Commission (EC) show almost all candidates, other than the winners and the second position holders, performed poorly.
In a good number of upazilas, candidates who came out third were also able to save their security deposits.
A large number of losing candidates however got less than 1,000 votes, with some of them getting even less than 100.
A total of 1,425 candidates won the three posts in each of the 475 upazilas.
In the recent parliamentary election, 900 candidates out of a total of 1,555 lost their security deposits amid a record voter turnout of over 87 percent.