Dhaka  - Barring a few disturbances, voting in by-elections to six Bangladesh parliamentary seats vacated by top leaders of major political parties of the country, ended peacefully Thursday, officials said.

The elections garnered turnout of 50 per cent, far lower than that of the December general elections, when more than 90 per cent of voters cast ballots to end two years rule of a military-backed government, according to Election Commission officials.

The seats were largely vacated in governmental shuffles following the outcome of the December elections.

The election commission reported that voting was generally peaceful. The army was kept off election duty in the wake of a February mutiny at Bangladesh's border guards' headquarters.

"Polling was peaceful in most areas," said Sohul Hossain, an election commissioner.

Local officials said that stray incidents of violence took place in northern Bogra constituencies. The election authorities started counting the ballots in the evening.

Police detained one activist of the ruling Awami League party for allegedly breaching election codes of conduct. (dpa)