41.8pc voter turnout in election: CEC

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal said on Monday that a total of 41.8 per cent vote was cast in the national election.  

Speaking at a press briefing on Monday at Agargaon Election Commission (EC) building he said, "The complete information of the 12th national election has come to us. Now the total vote is 41.8%. If anyone has any doubts, they can challenge it and check it themselves."

Explaining the calculation process, he said, "When the results of the total 298 seats started coming, when you add them up, a sum comes out. Its not a difficult task. Throwing this sum into an excel yields a percentage."
 
CEC said out of the 299 constituencies, results for 298 were published. The result for Mymensingh-3 constituency has been postponed. Election of a centre of the constituency will be held on 13 January and then the result will be declared.

Among the 298 seats, Awami League won 222, while independent candidates claimed victory in 62 seats, Jatiya Party won 11, Bangladesh Workers Party, Jatiya Samajtantrik Dal (JSD) and Bangladesh Kalyan Party got one seat each.
 
Kazi Habibul Awal also met an election observer team, which also includes the former Japanese ambassador.
Former Japanese ambassador Masato Watanabe, said, "I met with the CEC and I explained to him our impression after visiting several polling stations in Dhaka on polling day. I gave my impression and this will be incorporated into the report which was supposed to be submitted from the government of Japan."

"And the government of Japan will duly submit that report to the government of Bangladesh. I really appreciated for the warm welcome and hospitality of the election commission and the government of Bangladesh," he added.

The 12th general election, marked by a low turnout and sporadic violence in an otherwise largely peaceful atmosphere, placed the Awami League candidates and independents on the course to sweep the race in the absence of any major opposition.