Polling in the national election and referendum saw a 32.88 per cent turnout by midday amid reports of isolated incidents, though no voting centre has suspended operations, the Election Commission said.

Voting began simultaneously at 7:30am across all centres in the country’s 299 parliamentary constituencies, with no significant delays reported, he said.

 ‘We assure you that ballot casting for both the referendum and the Jatiya Sangsad election started at 7:30am at all 42,651 centres,’ Akhtar said.

According to reports received from 32,789 centres out of the total 42,651, voter turnout stood at 32.88 per cent as of 12:00 noon, he said.

The figure combines votes cast in both the referendum and the parliamentary election.

The EC secretary said voters were turning up steadily at centres.

Addressing reports of incidents in some areas, he said that while there had been sporadic disturbances, no polling centre had suspended voting.

He said that local administrations and law enforcement agencies had taken prompt action where necessary.

In Meherpur, two individuals were reportedly injured in a scuffle while returning after casting their votes.

They received first aid and returned home, with no fatalities reported.

In another incident in Hatia, an attack outside a polling centre left individuals injured; however, the secretary emphasised that the incidents occurred outside polling stations and did not disrupt voting.

Akhtar also confirmed that an assistant presiding officer assigned to a centre in a Mymensingh constituency had passed away early this morning.

A replacement official had been appointed, and voting at the centre continued without interruption.

Expressing gratitude to voters for their participation, Akhtar called on those yet to cast their ballots to come forward and exercise their democratic right.