Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said the voter turnout in the first phase of 6th Upazila Parishad polls was between 30 to 40 per cent.

“However, the real number will be known later. Due to rain and crops harvesting voters were reluctant to go to the polling centres, he  said  while talking the reporters at Nirbachan Bhaban in the  capital’s Agargaon area on Wednesday afternoon.

The CEC said upazila parishad elections was held in a  peaceful and neutral manner except few untoward incidents.

“Being informed about the incidents, the EC took immediate measures and balloting at two centres were postponed. Law enforcement agencies and administration were very cautious about their respective  duties,”

EC’s work is to see whether the voters were able to come or not, whether they were able to vote or not, whether there was any irregularity anywhere. “We have succeeded in discharging our duty”, he added.

The first phase of the country’s sixth Upazila Parishad Election was  held in 139 upazilas of 59 districts in the country on Wednesday.

The voting ended at 4:00pm without any recess.

Some 1630 candidates, including nearly 570 chairman contenders are in the electoral race in the 139 upazila parishads against a total of 417 posts –-chairman post, vice chairman and women vice chairman posts in each upazila.

There are more than 2.80 crore voters in the upazilas, according to the data of the Election Commission.