Only 36.10 percent votes have been casted for chairman candidates in the first phase of upazila elections held in 139 upazilas of the country. It’s the lowest voter turnout in last one decade in the local government elections. In 13 upazilas, the percentage of votes was less than 25 percent. More than 60 percent votes have been casted in only 13 upazilas.
Great contest was seen in 15 upazilas. In some upazilas, the candidates have won by a margin of just 200 votes. However, there was no contest visible in 63 upazilas. In this upazilas, the difference between the winner candidates and their close contestants were more than 10,000 votes.
The margin of vote in 31 upazilas was less than 3000. In 15 upazilas have more competition where the margin of votes was less than 1,000. Keraniganj upazila of Dhaka has the biggest difference of votes between the winning candidate and close contestant for the post of chairman. These data were found in the analysis of the results of the first phase. In the fifth upazila election of 2019, the average vote was more than 41 percent. In 2014, 61 percent votes were cast in the fourth upazila vote and 67.69 percent in the third upazila election in 2009. As such, the voter turnout in this local government election is the lowest in the last decade.
The Election Commission (EC) says that the turnout of voters was not expected due to various reasons including hostile weather and paddy harvesting season. Analysts say that voters are losing enthusiasm to come to the center due to non-participation of all parties. Moreover, people's interest in voting has decreased a lot. Those concerned believe that there are many reasons behind this. But one big reason is that if there is a vote with the participation of all the parties, if there is a kind of voting atmosphere, the voters might have enthusiasm. Since all parties are not participating in voting, the turnout is low.
Md. Alamgir, one of the election commissioners, on Thursday told the reporters, “36.10 percent votes were cast in the election. The voting percentage in EVMs is 31.31 percent, 37.22 percent in ballots.
He said the least number of votes were cast in Sonatala, Mirsarai and Kushtia Sadar upazilas, where there were was 17 percent voter turnout. Khetlal upazila of Joypurhat district received the highest number of votes. 73.16 percent of votes were cast there.
Voting was held in 139 upazilas on Wednesday with two isolated incidents. However, the two upazilas did not need to vote for the post of chairman as they were elected unopposed. In this phase, voting was done by EVM in 21 upazilas and in ballot papers in the rest. Polling was stopped in two centers on this day due to irregularities and disturbances. 37 people were arrested on charges of attempted irregularities. At the time of polling, threats, irregularities and chaos in some areas including Khagrachari's Lakshmichari, Bogra, Chapainawabganj's Bholahat, Gaibandhar's Phulchari, Madaripur, Sirajganj, Narayanganj were reported. In an immediate reaction at the election hall after the polling, the CEC said the election was held in free, impartial and peaceful manner. A few sporadic incidents occurred, where some collisions, injuries occurred. There have been little irregularities in some centres and we have taken immediate action there.
The voter turnout may be between 30 and 40 percent on an average, but voter turnout would be better, the CEC said.
(The report was published on print and online versions of The Bangladesh Pratidin on April May 6 and rewritten in English by Lutful Hoque Khan)
