CEC: Voter turnout 40% across Bangladesh

The Election Commission has said 40% of votes were cast across Bangladesh during the 12th national elections on Sunday. 

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal disclosed the information at a polls briefing held at the Agargaon Election Commission (EC) building.

The turnout may increase as people were still coming to centres at the time of the briefing, and no major violence was reported across the country, he added. 

There were no deaths due to violence. Two officials died due to cardiac arrest, according to the CEC.

“We fear that voter turnout will be low as an opposition party conducted a negative campaign against elections,” he said.

“The administration's bias did not appear in this election, while EC officials, district officials and other law enforcement agencies worked tirelessly to keep the situation normal and peaceful," Kazi Habibul Awal added.