NALITABARI, Sherpur — A BNP supporter has returned a buffalo he won in an unusual election wager tied to the Sherpur-2 constituency results, after considering the financial hardship faced by the man who lost the bet.
The buffalo, won by Mohammad Abdul Mannan of Uttar Nakshi village in Kalashpar union, was returned to its owner in the end, said Mohammad Abdul Majid, chairman of the Kalashpar union parishad, on Saturday, Feb. 14.
Before the election, Abdul Mannan and Amir Hossain of Balughata village made an unusual wager. Under the terms, Mannan would give six buffaloes if the Scale (Darri Palla) symbol won, and Amir Hossain would give one buffalo if the Sheaf of Paddy (Dhaner Shish) symbol won.
After ballots were counted, the Sheaf of Paddy symbol was declared the winner in the unofficial results, and Amir Hossain lost the bet. Under the prior agreement, Mannan took possession of the buffalo on Friday afternoon, parading it with villagers to the sound of drums. He entered the village as if leading a victory procession, drawing crowds of curious onlookers from young children to the elderly. But the festive moment did not last long.
According to residents, the buffalo was one of the main sources of income for Amir Hossain’s family. After losing the animal, he was emotionally devastated. When the family’s financial hardship and uncertainty about their livelihood came to light, the situation changed.
“Abdul Mannan and Amir Hossain are related,” said resident Mohammad Abdur Razzak. “Before the election, they made a bet involving a buffalo. After Amir Hossain lost the bet, Abdul Mannan and his BNP-supporting companions took the buffalo to drumbeats, then returned it on humanitarian grounds. We residents are very happy about this.”
Mannan said the bet had been made purely for fun and that he did not want anyone’s livelihood to be put at risk. He then formally returned the buffalo to Amir Hossain in the presence of villagers, drawing praise from those present.
Amir Hossain said: “Before the election, the two of us were grazing buffaloes in the field and made the bet during a conversation. After I lost the bet, I gave him a buffalo as I had promised. Then he showed me mercy and grace and, out of love, returned the buffalo. I am sincerely grateful to him.”
Engineer Fahim Chowdhury, the BNP-nominated candidate on the Sheaf of Paddy symbol, won the Sherpur-2 (Nakla-Nalitabari) constituency in the unofficial results. Residents said the act of humanity in the midst of political tensions sent a positive message to the community, turning a wager made in jest into an example of harmony, empathy and compassion.
বাংলায় মূল প্রতিবেদন পড়ুন · Read the original Bengali report