Voter turnout in the elections to the Dhaka North and South city corporations on Saturday (Feb 1) is rather low compared to the last elections in 2015.

Dhaka residents are using electronic voting machines (EVMs) in all 2,468 polling stations for the first time to choose mayors and councillors.

Polls opened at 8 am but three hours into the election the turnout of voters is very low in several polling stations with election officials found sitting idle.

Few voters were found during spot visits at several centres in Uttara, Dhanmondi, Mirpur, Jatrabari and Old Dhaka.

Only three votes were cast at the Kalachandpur School centre during the first hour of the voting.

No voters were found at the Willies Little Flower School centre during a visit by our correspondent. The total number of voters registered at the centre is 1,684. Until 10 am, only 11 people exercised their franchises at booth-2 out of the 291 voters.

"Voter turnout is not even one percent," said Assistant Presiding Officer Sadhan Kumar.

No queue of voters was found at the Lotus International School at Rayerbazar. Only 20 people voted in the first hour, according to police member Shafiq, who is posted at the centre.

Meanwhile, supporters of two councillor aspirants clashed with each other in front of the polling station at the Gendaria High School, which left voting suspended for some time.