Chief Election Commi-ssioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Tuesday that over 30 per cent voter exercised their right to vote in the second phase of upazila chairman election, voter turnout was low because a major political party boycotted the election.
Speaking to reporters at his office, he said, "Election was held in a fair and peaceful manner. No major incidence of violence was reported except a few isolated incidents in which several people were injured."
"Where there has been an attempt to rig the vote, the EC took action immediately. A total of 25 people were arrested and 10 were sentenced to various terms instantly," said CEC.
Awal said, "People did not come to vote as the main opposition party boycotted and discouraged voters by distributing leaflets. It can happen in a democratic political system."
"It is a political crisis. I think if our politics returns to the right track crisis regarding voter presence will be solved," he said.
EC Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said that voter turnout was approximately 17 per cent in first four hours of the second phase of upazila election.
