While turnout of voters in old areas of Sylhet City Corporation was disappointing, a festive mood prevailed in the newly included wards during the city polls today.

Enthusiastic voters of the newly added areas of the city queued up to cast their votes since morning, thanks to councillor candidates who during campaigning asked the voters to come early.

Among the total 42 wards, voter turnout was higher in the centres of 15 new wards than the others.

While visiting several polling centres, huge crowd was witnessed in Wards No. 34, 31, 35, 39 and 38.

At the Rashidia Dakhil Madrasha, which hosts two polling centres, the line of voters spilled out onto the street.

Jakaria Ahmed, a councillor candidate of ward 38, said, "The festivity is good to see and we are happy with the turnout."

Joydwip Das, presiding officer of Rashidia Dakhil Madrasha, said, "Voter turnout is good, but there is lack of proper knowledge about EVM, and vote casting is very slow."

During a visit at Muktirchar Government Primary School, Devpur Government Primary school, and Moiarchar Primary school centres, long queues of voters, especially female ones, were seen.

While in Ananda Niketan School centre, located in the city's heart, only 142 votes out of 3,536 were cast during the first two hours.