4th phase UZ polls: 34.33pc votes cast, says CEC

Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal today said 33.34 percent votes were cast in the 4th phase upazila parishad polls.

The CEC said this at a press briefing held at Nirbachan Bhaban in the capital's Agargaon.

He said 28 people were arrested while nine were sentenced to different jail terms and 21 were fined for various irregularities.

Earlier, EC Secretary Shafiul Azim told reporters that voter turnout was approximately 17.31 percent in the first four hours.

The CEC said elections to 22 upazilas will be held on June 9 as polls in those upazilas were postponed due to Cyclone Remal.

The voting began at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm without any break.

A total of 721 candidates are in the electoral race for 180 posts in 60 upazila parishads.

They include 251 chairman contenders, 265 vice chairman and 205 women (reserved) vice chairman contestants.

Five candidates were elected unopposed against three posts.