Md. Al Mumin , Gangachara (Rangpur)

Shamsul Huda has taken oath as the Chairman of Barabil Union Parishad (UP) of Gangachara Upazila in Rangpur.

After a long three-year legal battle, his oath-taking was held in the conference room of the Deputy Commissioner. The oath-taking was administered by Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Rabiul Faisal.

It is learnt that the voting for the Barabil Union Parishad election of the upazila was held on December 26, 2021. The returning officer declared Awami League candidate Shahid Chowdhury Dwip as the chairman after getting 6,235 votes. His closest rival, independent candidate lawyer Shamsul Huda, got 6,100 votes.

Later, Shamsul Huda filed a case in the Rangpur Tribunal Court for a recount, alleging vote rigging. After two and a half years, the judge pronounced a verdict in his favor after getting 402 more votes after the counting.

Shahid Chowdhury Dwip later appealed to the High Court.

On February 13, the court dismissed the writ petition and upheld the lower court's verdict and allowed the oath.

In view of this, a letter signed by the acting deputy director of local government, Rangpur, Md. Mainul Islam, set the date for the oath-taking of Gangachara Union Parishad Chairman Shamsul Huda on Monday.

In this regard, Shamsul Huda said, "I am happy to have been elected and sworn in by the court's verdict. I am grateful to the people of Barabil Union. They elected me with their direct votes. The people of the previous Awami League government declared their candidate elected as the chairman. Later, I filed a case with the Election Tribunal. I took the oath after three years and two months."