Dhaka: Chief Election Commissioner Kazi Habibul Awal announced on Wednesday that the first phase of the Upazila Parishad elections proceeded smoothly, marked by a commendable level of fairness and tranquility, with a voter turnout ranging from 30 to 40 percent.

Addressing journalists at the Election Commission (EC) secretariat in Dhaka following the conclusion of the balloting, the CEC stated that aside from isolated incidents, the election unfolded in a peaceful manner.

According to the CEC, there were a total of 34 violent incidents involving supporters of various candidates, resulting in 37 injuries.

Additionally, minor irregularities occurred during the election process, leading to the suspension of voting at two out of the 10,399 polling centers.

Commenting on the voter turnout, the CEC noted that factors such as rainfall in certain regions and the ongoing paddy harvesting season might have contributed to the relatively low participation rate.