Awami League candidates dominated elections to 14 upazila parishads and four municipalities that ended peacefully under the new Election Commission (EC) with low turnout. The polls were the centre of attention for many as they were keen to see whether the newly formed EC would be able to hold the polls in a free and fair manner. Seemingly, the new EC passed with flying colours in its first assignment as no incidents of violence were reported from any of the polling areas. According to unofficial results from 12 upazilas as off 1:30am Tuesday, the AL candidates bagged eight chairman posts while BNP candidates bagged three and an independent candidate swept chairman post in one upazila.
AL candidates won in Comilla sadar, Pabna’s Sujanagar, Patuakhali’s Rangabali, Natore’s Baraigram, Barisal’s Gournadi and Banaripara upazilas. Other than that, two AL candidates won unopposed in Kurigram sadar and Jhalakathi’s Kathalia upazilas.
BNP candidates were declared winners in Sunamganj’s Jagannathpur, Kishoreganj’s Hossainpur and Sylhet’s Osmaninagar upazilas.  The independent candidate bagged the Guimara upazila in Khagrachhari.  
In municipality polls, AL candidate Ahsanul Huq won the

mayoral  election in Patuakhali’s Galachipa.
Meanwhile, the Election Commission yesterday expressed its satisfaction over the polls that ended without any untoward incidents.
When asked about the elections, EC Secretary Mohammad Abdullah said the voting was held in a peaceful and fair manner.
"No unwanted incident took place anywhere during the election. We didn't receive any complaint of violence or election irregularities," he added.
Additional cautionary measures were taken as these polls were the first batch of challenges for the new EC, he said.
Earlier in the day, the balloting began at 8am and continued until 4pm without any break.
A very low turnout was reported from Comilla, Sunamganj, Sylhet and other parts of the country.
Among the 14 upazilas in 12 districts, fresh elections were held in Osmaninagar of Sylhet, Guimara of Khagrachhari and Jagannathpur of Sunamganj to elect the chairmen and vice-chairmen posts.
People in the remaining 11 upazila parishads cast their votes to fill some vacant posts while voters in four municipalities in four districts cast their votes in by-polls for electing either mayor or councillor posts.
By-election for chairman post were held at Kurigram Sadar, Sujanagar in Pabna, Banaripara and Gournadi in Barisal, Kathalia in Jhalakathi, Rangabali in Patuakhali, Adarsh Nagar in Comilla, Boraigram in Natore and Hoshenpur in Kishoreganj.
By-polls for vice-chairman post were held in Chauddagram in Comilla, Jaldhaka in Nilphamari, Kalaroa in Satkhira and Morelganj in Bagerhat while female vice chairman post held at Ishwardi in Pabna and Comilla Sadar South Upazila.
The candidates from major parties including Awami League, Jatiya Party and Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) are contested the polls.