JHALAKATHI, Feb 16, (V7N) - Eight of the 10 candidates contesting the 13th National Parliament election in Jhalakathi-1 constituency have lost their deposits, according to unofficial results announced by the District Returning Officer.

Under Election Commission rules, candidates must secure at least 12.5 percent of the total votes cast to retain their Tk 50,000 deposit. With 131,589 votes cast in the constituency, eight contenders failed to meet the threshold.

Those forfeiting deposits include Islami Andolan Bangladesh’s Ibrahim (7,744 votes), independent M. Moin Alam Firozi (593), Jatiya Party’s Md. Kamruzzaman Khan (321), Janata Dal’s Md. Jasim Uddin Talukder (63), Jatiya Party JP’s Md. Rubel Howlader (2,562), Ganadhikar Parishad’s Md. Shahdat Hossain (132), independent Md. Sabbir Ahmed (345), and Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal’s Md. Sohnab Hossain (110).

Unofficial results show Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidate Rafiqul Islam Jamal leading with 62,100 votes under the paddy sheaf symbol. His closest rival, Bangladesh Jamaat-e-Islami’s Dr. Faizul Haque, received 55,120 votes under the scales symbol.

END/AIJ/RH