More than 30% votes cast in 2nd phase upazila polls: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said more than 30 percent votes were cast in the second phase of the sixth upazila parishad elections.

"No major incidents of violence happened in the elections. According to the information we received so far, the voter turnout may be more than 30 percent but you will get accurate data tomorrow," he told the reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban at Agargaon in the capital Dhaka on Tuesday afternoon.

About the reasons behind the low turnout, he said, "Undoubtedly I think 30 percent votes is never encouraging. One of the main causes of low turnout may be election boycott by a main political party (BNP) of the country."

Earlier, the balloting started at 8 am and continued to 4 pm without any break. 

The EC sources said there are 1,824 candidates in the second phase upazila polls. Among them, 603 are contesting for chairman, 693 for vice chairman, and 598 for women vice chairman posts.

However, 22 of the total candidates were elected unopposed.

The third phase of the upazila parishad election is scheduled to be held on May 29, and the fourth and last phase on June 5.

MOS/MSU