In his maiden run to become a member of parliament, Bangladesh national cricket team skipper Shakib Al Hasan on Sunday beat his rival candidate in Magura-1 constituency and won by taking a huge lead of nearly 1,80,000 votes.
In the 12th national election held on Sunday, Shakib earned the landslide victory with Awami League’s ticket and its electoral symbol Boat, bagging 185,388 votes, according to the results announced by the returning officer.
His nearest candidate Advocate Rezaul Hasan of Bangladesh Congress secured only 5,994 votes.
Shakib went to the Dari Magura Government Primary School polling centre in Magura with his father Khondoker Masroor Reza, his sister and other family members before the voting started on Sunday morning. He had to wait outside of the polling centre for five minutes before casting his vote at 8am.
Afterwards, while speaking to the press, Shakib said he was optimistic about winning the election.
“I’m hopeful that everyone will be able to cast their vote safely and fearlessly. Voting is everyone’s constitutional right, so everyone is invited to cast their votes,” he said.
“I’m hopeful that the voters of Magura-1 will elect me by casting their votes on boat. I want to work for the people of my constituency, so I hope the people of Magura will help me to work for the advancement of this area for the next five years,” he added.
Five candidates, including Shakib, contested the polls from Magura-1. The others are Kazi Rezaul, KM Motasim Billah from Bangladesh Nationalist Front, Md Sirajus Sayafin Saif from Jatiya Party, and Sanjay Kumar Roy from Trinamool BNP.
A total of 4,00,485 people were expected to exercise their franchise in 152 polling centres in this constituency.
Magura Deputy Commissioner and Returning Officer Abu Naser Beg said six-tier security measures had been taken to hold the election in a free and peaceful manner.
A total of 5,068 members of the army, BGB, RAB, police and Ansar had been deployed in the constituency. 23 executive magistrates and judicial magistrates performed their duties.
