Despite efforts, 2nd phase upazila polls saw lowest turnout in 15 years

The second phase of the Sixth Upazila Parishad Election witnessed the lowest voter turnout in the last 15 years, with only 30%, despite candidates' desperate efforts to mobilise voters and the Election Commission (EC) making extensive preparations to attract voter attention.

Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Habibul Awal expressed dissatisfaction over today's turnout following elections in 156 upazilas across 63 districts.

"The voter turnout is not satisfactory," he said during a post-poll press briefing at Agargaon's Election Building.

When questioned about the low turnout in the second phase, he said, "I personally do not find a 30% voter turnout encouraging. One of the major political parties in the country openly announced boycotting the polls, which likely discouraged people from voting."

Asserting that there is no crisis in voting, he said, "The crisis lies in politics. If politics operates in a healthier manner, perhaps the issue of low voter turnout can be overcome in the future. Voters in any democratic country should understand the importance of self-governance."

I personally do not find a 30% voter turnout encouraging. One of the major political parties in the country openly announced boycotting the polls, which likely discouraged people from voting.

Kazi Habibul Awal, chief election commissioner

He further said in the future, the country's political landscape will flow in a healthier manner, and voters will be encouraged to participate. They will come to polling stations in a more encouraging environment.

Earlier, the voter turnout was 36.1% in the first phase of this upazila election held on 8 May.

Although the Awami League did not field candidates with the party's electoral symbol, the boat, only members of the ruling party participated in this election. No other party had as many candidates in either the first or second phase, leading to competition primarily among the ruling party's leaders and their relatives.

Data from previous elections shows that after the Awami League-led grand alliance came to power following the 2008 national polls, voter turnout saw a continuous downtrend.

According to the data, voter turnout was 68.32% in the third upazila parishad election in 2009. Then, in the fourth upazila election held in 2014, the turnout was 61%. And in 2019, the voter turnout was 40.22% for the first time in the upazila elections.

In the current election, the voter turnout in the first phase fell to 36% and in the second phase to around 30%, which is the lowest.

In the second phase, 1,824 candidates – 603 for chairman, 693 for vice-chairman and 528 for women vice-chairman – competed. While twenty-two candidates, including seven chairmen, eight vice-chairmen, and seven women vice-chairmen, were elected unopposed.

 Some 3,52,04,748 voters were supposed to exercise their franchise in 13,016 centres.

'Election was peaceful'

Meanwhile, the CEC claimed that today's election was peaceful.

He said while there was no significant violence, 33 people were injured in clashes, with one to two seriously injured and undergoing treatment at the hospital. Two persons died at voting centres due to heat-related issues or other illnesses, he added.

"Twenty-five people have been arrested for various misdeeds. Ten people have been immediately sentenced to prison for casting fake votes," he said.

Referring to the role of the media in the polls, he said, "We have heard that some media workers have been injured."