Counting of votes started on Sunday after the polling ended in Bangladesh’s general elections marred by sporadic violence and a boycott by the main Opposition BNP and its allies, paving the way for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to secure a record fourth straight term.
According to the initial estimates, the voter turnout was around 40 per cent but the figure could change after the final count, Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal said.
An hour before the voting ended, the election commission had said that the voter turnout was 27.15 per cent at 3 pm. The 2018 general election recorded an overall turnout of more than 80 per cent. “The voting ended at 4 pm and the counting has started,” an election commission spokesman said, adding that the results were expected by early Monday.
He said other than some sporadic incidents of violence, the voting was largely peaceful in 299 of the 300 constituencies. The Commission suspended polling in one seat because of the death of a candidate.
The early results show that Awami League is leading the electoral race. So far, unofficially, Awami League has won in 10 constituencies, the Dhaka Tribune newspaper reported.
