​​​​​​​DHAKA/ISTANBUL

Unofficial results started trickling in after millions of Bangladeshis cast their ballots Thursday in general elections – the first since the 2024 ouster of Sheikh Hasina.

The alliances led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) and Jamaat-e-Islami are the two main contenders, as Hasina's Awami League was barred from the vote.

The counting of ballots in 299 constituencies began soon after polls closed.

While the election commission did not confirm the results, some local newspapers and broadcasters said BNP was ahead of Jamaat.

Jamaat, however, claimed otherwise. Its chief Shafiqur Rahman alleged election officials in some constituencies were "holding results despite counts had been completed and that Jamaat won those seats."

A clearer picture of the results is expected take several more hours.

The voting took place between 7.30 am local time (0130GMT) and 4.30 pm.

More than 127.6 million people were eligible to vote in the election, which also included a referendum on constitutional reforms. The polls were largely peaceful, but at least nine deaths were reported, according to the Prothom Alo newspaper.

"Some of them fell ill at polling centres, some on their way after voting, and some while performing their duties at the centers. In some cases, allegations and counter-allegations have also arisen regarding the deaths," it said.

The voter turnout is expected to hit 60%, higher than the January 2024 elections, which were won by Hasina's Awami League but boycotted by the BNP-Jamaat opposition.

Election authorities also received 1.14 million postal ballots, including 495,551 votes cast by expats living outside the South Asian nation.

A total of 51 political parties and 2,034 candidates ran for parliamentary seats, including 275 independents.

While 300 lawmakers are directly elected, 50 seats are reserved for women.

Voting was postponed on one seat as a candidate died shortly before the election.