Voting peacefully, low turnout due to paddy harvesting season: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal has said the voting in the first phase of upazila elections in 139 upazilas across the country was held peacefully.

He said this while briefing the journalists at EC office in the capital after the voting ended on Wednesday.

The voter turnout was around 30 to 40 per cent. For the low turnout, the CEC, however, blamed rain in some parts of the country in the morning and the ongoing paddy harvesting season. 

Unpleasant incidents were reported in some places, he said, adding that according to the control room, in 34 incidents, 25 people were injured and law enforcers have detained 37 people in this connection. But all the incidents were took place outside the polling centres, he added.