Counting of the votes in the elections to 107 Upazilas is under way as balloting ended amid lower turnout.
The voting took place from 8am to 4pm without any break while a general holiday was announced on Sunday (Mar 31) in polling zones.
Less number of voters’ presence was seen at most of the polling centres.
The fourth phase of the fifth Upazila Council elections were held in 107 upazilas in 16 districts under five divisions.
As many as 1,142 candidates contested for chairman, vice-chairman and women vice-chairman posts in the fourth phase of polls.
About 150,000 members of Police, Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB), Ansar and Armed Police Battalion (APBn) remained deployed to maintain the law and order during the upazila elections while additional BGB personnel will guard 50 upazilas which are considered as risky.
The fourth phase election was scheduled to be held in 128 Upazila Parishads including six postponed upazilas’ election in the three previous phases.
The Election Commission (EC) has suspended the elections to Dumuria (Khulna), Chhagalnaiya (Feni), Trishal (Mymensingh), Barura (Cumilla), Mathbaria (Pirojpur) and Kabirhat (Noakhali).
Besides, there was no voting in 15 upazilas as candidates in all posts were elected unopposed.
The fifth phase of the Upazila Council elections will be held in 21 upazilas on Jun 18 next.