2021 Chattogram City Corporation election

The Chattogram City Corporation (CCC) is the governing body responsible for the administration of Chattogram, the second-largest city in Bangladesh.{{Cite web |title=Chattogram City Corporation: Overview |url=https://www.chattogram.gov.bd |access-date=2024-08-26 |publisher=Chattogram City Corporation}} The term of the previous mayor, A. J. M. Nasir Uddin, elected in 2015, ended in 2020.{{Cite news |date=2020-12-31 |title=A. J. M. Nasir Uddin's Tenure Comes to an End |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/city/news/nasir-uddin-end-tenure-2020 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} The election was originally scheduled to take place in March 2020 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite web |title=Chattogram City Election Postponed Amid COVID-19 Fears |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2020/03/21/ccc-election-postponed |access-date=2024-08-26 |publisher=Dhaka Tribune}}

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

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

The election was conducted using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all 735 polling stations in the city.{{Cite web |title=Chattogram City Corporation Election: EVMs Used in All Polling Stations |url=https://www.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2021/01/27/evms-used-chattogram-city-corporation-election |access-date=2024-08-26 |publisher=bdnews24}} Around 1.92 million voters were registered to cast their vote.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=1.92 Million Registered Voters for Chattogram City Corporation Election |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-news/news/192-million-registered-voters-chattogram-city-corporation-election-2021-2123456 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} 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.{{Cite web |title=First Large-Scale Use of EVMs in Bangladesh Local Elections |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/election/2021/01/27/evms-local-elections |access-date=2024-08-26 |publisher=Dhaka Tribune}}

The results were announced later in the evening on January 27, 2021.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Chattogram City Corporation Election Results Announced |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/bangladesh-news/local-news/news/chattogram-city-corporation-election-results-announced-2119785 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, the Awami League candidate, won the mayoral race by a wide margin, receiving approximately 369,248 votes,{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Wins Chattogram Mayor Election |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/2021/01/27/rezaul-karim-chowdhury-wins-chattogram-mayoral-race |access-date=2024-08-26 |newspaper=The Dhaka Tribune}} while Shahadat Hossain of the BNP garnered 52,489 votes.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Shahadat Hossain Receives 52,489 Votes in Chattogram Election |url=https://www.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2021/01/27/shahadat-hossain-results-chattogram |access-date=2024-08-26 |newspaper=BDNews24}}

Rezaul Karim Chowdhury succeeded A. J. M. Nasir Uddin as mayor of Chattogram.{{Cite web |title=Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Succeeds Nasir Uddin as Chattogram Mayor |url=https://www.newagebd.net/article/123456/rezaul-karim-chowdhury-new-mayor-of-chattogram |access-date=2024-08-26 |publisher=New Age}} The Awami League also secured the majority of the councilor positions in the 41 wards of the Chattogram City Corporation.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Awami League Wins Majority of Councilor Positions in Chattogram |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/awami-league-wins-majority-councilor-positions-chattogram-1611749000 |newspaper=The Financial Express}}

{{Election results

|cand1=Rezaul Karim Chowdhury |party1=Bangladesh Awami League

|votes1= 369248

|cand2=Dr. Shahadat Hossain |party2=Bangladesh Nationalist Party

|votes2= 52489

|cand3= Md. Jannatul Islam

|party3=Islami Andolan Bangladesh

|votes3=4980

|cand4=Abul Manzoor

|party4= National People's Party

|votes4=4653

|cand5=M A Matin

|party5=Bangladesh Islami Front |votes5=2126

|cand6=Muhammad Waheed Murad |party6=Islamic Front Bangladesh

|votes6=1109

|cand7=Khokon Chowdhury |party7=Independent

|votes7=885

|invalid=1053

|electorate= 1938706

|source=[https://www.ntvbd.com/bangladesh/চট্টগ্রামে-ভোট-পড়েছে-২২৫২-ভাগ-859957]

}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Violence Erupts During Chattogram City Corporation Election |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/violence-erupts-during-chattogram-city-corporation-election-2039421 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=BNP Polling Agent Killed in Election Violence |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/election/2021/01/27/bnp-polling-agent-killed-in-election-violence |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune}}

According to local media reports, around 20 people were injured in election-related violence,{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=20 Injured in Chattogram City Election Violence |url=https://www.bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2021/01/27/20-injured-chattogram-city-election-violence |newspaper=BDNews24}} and allegations of vote rigging and irregularities were rampant.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Allegations of Vote Rigging in Chattogram City Election |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/allegations-of-vote-rigging-in-chattogram-city-election-1611749826 |newspaper=The Financial Express}} Despite these issues, the Election Commission of Bangladesh declared the election successful and largely peaceful.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-27 |title=Election Commission Declares Chattogram City Election Successful |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/election-commission-declares-chattogram-city-election-successful-2039453 |newspaper=The Daily Star}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2021-02-01 |title=Awami League Celebrates Rezaul Karim Chowdhury's Victory |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/awami-league-celebrates-rezaul-karim-chowdhurys-victory-2042125 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2021-02-01 |title=Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Promises Continuation of Development Projects |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/election/2021/02/01/rezaul-karim-chowdhury-promises-continuation-of-development-projects |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune}}

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.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-28 |title=BNP Rejects Chattogram Election Results, Accuses Awami League of Irregularities |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/bnp-rejects-chattogram-election-results-accuses-awami-league-of-irregularities-1611829890 |newspaper=The Financial Express}} Shahadat Hossain, the BNP candidate, demanded an investigation into the alleged irregularities and called for the election results to be annulled.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-28 |title=BNP Demands Investigation Into Election Irregularities |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/bnp-demands-investigation-election-irregularities-2039492 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} 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.{{Cite news |date=2021-01-29 |title=BNP Protests Against EVMs and Election Results |url=https://www.dhakatribune.com/bangladesh/election/2021/01/29/bnp-protests-against-evms-and-election-results |newspaper=Dhaka Tribune}} Shahadat Hossain's call for investigation was rejected and Rezaul Karim Chowdhury was sworn in as the 6th Mayor of Chattogram City Corporation on 11 February 2021.{{Cite news |date=2021-02-11 |title=Rezaul Karim Chowdhury Sworn In as Mayor |url=https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/rezaul-karim-chowdhury-sworn-mayor-chattogram-2043438 |newspaper=The Daily Star}} Rezaul Karim couldn't fulfill his term as Sheikh Hasina's regime fell in 2024 amid mass protests.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-20 |title=Sheikh Hasina's Regime Falls Amid Mass Protests |url=https://thefinancialexpress.com.bd/national/sheikh-hasinas-regime-falls-amid-mass-protests-1692530560 |newspaper=The Financial Express}} On 19 August, Rezaul Karim Chowdhury, along with the mayors of other city corporations, was removed from his position and replaced by the Divisional Commissioners.{{Cite news |date=2024-08-19 |title=Bangladesh appoints administrators to lead 12 city corporations|url=https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/b0eb3cf2e443 |newspaper=BDNews24(Not reliable and ad of women)}}

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Category:2021 elections in Bangladesh

Category:2020s in Chittagong

Category:Local elections in Bangladesh

Category:Elections in Chittagong

Category:January 2021 in Bangladesh

Category:Mayoral elections in Bangladesh