Mannan, reportedly backed by a faction of Awami League (AL) which boycotted the polls, raised allegations of manipulation of the election results and demanded scrapping of the polls.

Addressing a press conference at Sylhet Press Club, he said the results were manipulated by the district officials who were influenced by the ruling party lawmakers present during the result announcement.

"It is unbelievable and unacceptable," he said, rejecting the poll results.

Mannan said a number of ministers and high-ups including BNP General Secretary Abdul Mannan Bhuiyan had addressed a number of election rallies making pledges to the voters, which is a violation of the electoral rules.

He alleged that the ruling party men attacked his followers at Patharia bazar after the announcement of the results of the centre. At least 36 people were injured in the attack, 10 of them were hospitalised.

According to the unofficial results announced Wednesday night, Shahinur Pasha defeated Mannan by a margin of 4,055 votes.

Mannan was backed by the followers of late AL leader Abdus Samad Azad. The seat had fallen vacant at the death of Samad Azad in April.