Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal on Sunday said the 12th Jatiya Sangsad (JS) polls were held almost peacefully with around 40 percent turnout of voters.
"Starting at 8am the polling ended at 4pm on Sunday. Based on the reports received here till this evening, the voter turnout is
around 40 percent. However, the number may increase or decrease finally," the CEC said at a post-election briefing at the EC Secretariat in the capital. The parliamentary elections were held in 299 seats out of 300 electoral constituencies throughout the country.
Replying to a query of journalists, the CEC said, "I can't say whether the election has been accepted internationally or not, but it has been good."
He informed the journalists that some 28 candidates boycotted the election on the polling day showing
various allegations, including election irregularities.
As off filing of the report, most of the candidates from the Awami
Legue were in a leading position, said officials concerned.
Witnesses said voters were found standing in queues to exercise their franchise since the morning in festive manner across the country.
The EC took all-out preparations to hold the elections in a free, fair and peaceful manner.
As many as 11,93,33,157 voters, including 6,05,92,169 male, 5,87,40,140 female and 848 transgender, were registered to exercise their franchise to elect 299 parliament members today. A total of 1,969 candidates, including 1,533 from 28 political parties and 436 independents, are vying in the polls in 299 constituencies.
Around eight lakh officials are discharging their duties in the voting while around 3,000 executive and judicial magistrates side by side with eight lakh law enforcers, including members of armed forces, are on duty to maintain law and order and ensure public security.
Additional Secretary of the EC Ashok Kumar Devnath said a total of 20,773 observers, including 2,000 from different countries across the globe, monitored the elections. The election observers also include media personnel.
According to EC officials, total number of voters this year was 11,96,89,289, including 6,76,09,741 males, 5,89,18,699 females and 849 trans-genders.
The balloting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without break at 261,912 polling booths in 42,024 voting centres across the country.
A total of 1,970 candidates, including 1,534 from 28 political parties and 436 independents, contested the polls.
Of the candidates, 266 from the ruling Awami League (AL), 265 from Jatiya Party (JaPa), 135 from Trinomul BNP, 66 from Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JASAD), 122 from National People's Party (NPP), 13 from Jatiya Party (JP) and 10 from Bikalpa Dhara Bangladesh.
