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in upazila polls since 2009, said EC sources.

The turnout was 36 percent in the first phase of upazila elections held on May 8, 38 percent in the second phase on May 21, and 36 percent in the third phase held on May 29.

The figure was 70.57 percent in the 2009 upazila polls, which dropped to 61.23 percent in 2014. On average, it stood around 40 percent in the 2019 upazila polls conducted in five phases.

In the January 7 national election, the turnout was 42 percent.

The BNP and many other political parties have stayed off the upazila polls, like they did in the January 7 national election saying that the EC is “not capable of holding the elections in a free and fair manner”.

The battle of ballots took place among independents, mostly from the ruling Awami League, as other political parties did not field any candidates.

In Chattogram, a voter was injured when activists of two vice-chairman candidates clashed at East Pingala Government Primary School polling centre in Patiya upazila.

A mobile court fined four people Tk one lakh over attempting to influence voters at Baharchhara Ratnapur High School Polling Centre in Banshkhali upazila.

In Patuakhali, a mobile court sentenced a man to six months’ imprisonment for trying to cast fake votes at Gangipara Government Primary School polling centre in Rangabali upazila.

A chairman candidate sought a re-election to Brahmanbaria Sadar upazila, alleging “massive irregularities” committed by supporters of his rival.

In Dinajpur’s Phulbari upazila, a thin presence of voters was seen at different polling stations throughout the day.

In flood-hit Zakiganj and Kanaighat upazilas of Sylhet, many voters came to polling stations on boats.

“The road to the polling station has been submerged. So, I have come to cast my vote on a boat,” said Saju Uddin, a voter of Konagram Government Primary School polling centre in Kanaighat upazila.

Elections to 22 upazilas, which were suspended due to Cyclone Remal, will be held on June 9.

[Our correspondents from respective districts contributed to this report.]