Election Commission (EC) Secretary Helal Uddin Ahmed today claimed that the first phase of the upazila parishad election was held in free, fair and peaceful atmosphere.

“The first phase of the upazila parishad election was held more or less peacefully,” Helal Uddin, came up with the claim in a post-poll press conference at the Nirbachan Bhaban in Sher-e-Bangla Nagar area of Dhaka.

The voting at 5,847 centres in 78 upazilas of 12 districts of the country was held simultaneously while balloting at 28 centres was suspended following allegations of irregularities, the EC secretary said.

Except some stray incidents, the election was held in a peaceful manner, the EC secretary said adding that the schedule for the election at the 28 centres will be announced later.

About turnout of voters in the election, he said, “We couldn’t know anything in this regard as counting of votes is going on.”

However, the EC secretary said the turnout of voters will be better as the election was held in a peaceful manner with satisfactory turnout of voters.