Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) KM Nurul Huda says he is pleased with the voting in the elections to the bifurcated Dhaka City Corporation despite the thin presence of voters.
"The figure of votes casted is yet to be available, but it will be less than 30 percent," he told the media on Saturday (Feb 1) at the Election Commission offices in Dhaka's Agargaon.
Dismissing allegations of opposition candidates' polling agents being driven out of centres, the CEC said they did not receive any complains.
"They agents who reported at [their designated centres] were not driven out. No complaints were lodged," he said.
The CEC seemed to be reluctant to speak to the media over the Dhaka city elections, but briefed reporters while leaving his offices after several requests.
Polls closed at 4pm amid a low turnout of voters and complaints of fingerprint mismatches.
The elections went largely peaceful though amid some sporadic reports of violence.
Speaking to the media earlier in the day, CEC Huda CEC Huda expressed disappointment at the lacklustre turnout but his hopes of an increase in the number of voters later in the day did not ultimately materialise.
"Voters will come. It's the responsibility of the candidates to ensure their presence at the voting centres. Our job is to create a proper voting atmosphere. There were no lackings on our part on that front," said Huda.