Voter turnout 36.1% in 1st phase upazila polls: EC Alamgir

Staff Reporter:

The voter turnout in the first phase of the sixth upazila parishad polls was 36.1%, Election Commissioner Md Alamgir said on Thursday.

While talking to reporters at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Dhaka, Alamgir said Kushtia Sadar upazila witnessed the lowest turnout as 17% votes were cast there, while the highest 73.1% votes were cast in Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat.

Despite some sporadic reports of violence, the first phase of elections was held peacefully in 139 upazilas across the country on Wednesday.

In a post-poll press conference at the Nirbachan Bhaban, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said 30%-40% of votes might have been cast in the polling.