Dhaka, Feb. 13 -- Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) AMM Nasir Uddin on Thursday dismissed allegations of manipulation over voter turnout percentages released during the balloting process, saying such variations are natural as results from thousands of polling centres arrive at different times.

"There were debates over the voter turnout percentage in the past (elections) as well. Please don't question it now," he said at a post-election briefing at 10pm on Thursday night.

The CEC, however, didn't release the overall voter turnout percentage at the briefing.

Addressing concerns raised over changes in reported vote percentages, he said questions often emerge immediately after results start coming in, with some people pointing out that the...