Turnout in national election and referendum 59.44%: EC

Voter turnout in the 13th parliamentary election and referendum stood at 59.44 percent, the Election Commission of Bangladesh said.

After completing the announcement of results this morning, EC Director of Public Relations Ruhul Amin Mollik told journalists around 11:30am that the rate of votes cast was 59.44 percent.

Thousands of men and women, some on crutches or in wheelchairs, queued patiently for hours at polling centres across the country. They stood without fear, reclaiming the opportunity to choose representatives for 299 of the 300 parliamentary seats.

Women voters turned out in large numbers, many arriving in groups, reflecting broad participation across age and gender.

Alongside electing a new parliament widely seen as critical to the country’s democratic transition after years of political turmoil, voters also took part in a referendum on constitutional reforms. Two votes were held simultaneously for the first time in the nation’s history.