Awami League (AL) General Secretary and Road Transport and Bridges Minister Obaidul Quader today said the third phase upazila (UZ) election was held in a festive mood and it was peaceful and participatory.

“No casualty was reported during the third phase polls except a few sporadic incidents. Strict decisions were taken to hold the election fairly. The voter turnout was satisfactory and the voters exercised their franchise without any hassle,” he said.

The AL general secretary said this at a press conference held at the AL president’s political office in city’s Dhanmondi this evening.

Quader said the voter turnout was initially found to be around 35 percent in the third phase of Upazila Parishad polls. The exact figure will be known tomorrow, he said.

He extended thanks to the Election Commission (EC) and other officials for holding the polls peacefully.

He said it was expected that a few voters would come to the polling centers as many roads and streets were damaged due to cyclone Remal. But the voter turnout was satisfactory, he added.

Criticising a comment of BNP leaders over former police chief Benazir and former army chief Aziz, the AL general secretary said, “Who created Ashraful Huda, Rakibul Huda and SP Kahinur? Who had created the ‘Hawa Bhaban’, the place of corruption? Did BNP carry out any trial against them?”

Quader said Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has courage. For this, she has declared ‘zero tolerance’ against corruption. Two contractual appointments of two officials at the Prime Minister’s office have been canceled today, he said, adding they might have some negligence in performing their responsibilities.

He said no one thought in that way about Benazir and Aziz Ahmed seeing their talent, degree and intelligence. Their offences are their personal issues and they will have to face the music, Quader said.

AL organizing secretaries BM Mozammel Haque, SM Kamal Hossain and Mirza Azam, liberation war affairs secretary Mrinal Kanti Das, relief and social welfare secretary Aminul Islam, office secretary Barrister Biplob Barua, deputy publicity secretary Syed Abdul Awal Shamim and deputy office secretary Sayem Khan, among others, were present.