DHAKA: The counting of votes cast in the election at 712 Union Parishads (UPs) in 34 districts is underway and the unofficial results have started coming to banglanews newsroom.

According to unofficial results of 94 UPs, ruling Awami League (AL) candidates have elected in 73 while Independent candidates won 15. Besides, BNP candidates have so far been elected in six UPs.

Meanwhile, Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Kazi Rakibuddin Ahmed said the first phase of Union Parishad (UP) election has become acceptable.

There were trivial incidents in some polling centers among 6,500 across the country, he added.

Earlier on Tuesday, voting started at 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm.

Around 1.25-crore voters exercised their franchise rights in 6,987 polling centers on the day. This is the first ever UP polls under party banner.

As many as 3,043; 7,575 and 25,847 candidates are vying for chairman, reserved posts and councilor posts respectively.

A total of 14 political parties, including ruling Awami League, BNP and Jatiya Party, have participated in the polls.

Meanwhile, 54 candidates of Awami League have already been elected unopposed.

The election commission (EC) appointed over 120,000 officials and 200,000 law enforcers on the polls duty.

Over 3,000 journalists and several thousands observers are observing voting in the UPs. However, no foreign observers came this year.

However, EC expressed satisfaction over peaceful voting though clashes and firing were reported in some districts.

The EC has decided to arrange polls in around 4,500 UPs of the country in six phases. This is the first phase.

BDST: 2132 HRS, MAR 22, 2016
RR/SMS

** Voting ends, counting on