Polls fair under party govt, says CEC

Chief Election Commi-ssioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal has said around 40 per cent votes were cast in Sunday's national election.

"It's a rough estimation that nearly 40 per cent of ballots have been cast in the 12th parliamentary election," he told the media after the end of voting.

However, Election Commission (EC) Secretary Md Jahangir Alam said approximately 27 per cent of voters exercised their voting rights until 3.00pm on the day.

But, there was no explanation from the CEC for the casting of 13 per cent votes in just next one hour.

Mr Awal said the figure (40 per cent turnout) might change after the EC received all information.

"The figure might increase, may not increase either. I don't understand this calculation," he added.

The CEC further said the voter turnout had been much higher than it was expected as major oppositions did not take part in the polls.

"We feared that voters' presence would have been lower since a significant party boycotted the election," he said.

The EC has identified some irregularities, including stuffing of fake ballots, for which necessary action has been taken, the CEC told reporters.

After visiting some polling centres in the capital in the morning, Mr Awal said he found no polling agents of candidates, except that of 'Boat' symbol.

He made the observation while talking to reporters after he cast his ballot in the Habibullah Bahar College centre in the city's Shantinagar area.

"We emphasised that a competitive election will require presence of polling agents from all candidates. But I've seen only 'Boat' agents."

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