Four people, including an Awami League leader and a Jubo Dal leader, were killed in separate incidents of election violence in Munshiganj, Comilla, Brahmanbaria and Jhalakati districts during the 4th phase of upazila elections on Sunday.
In Munshiganj, a local leader of the ruling party was hacked to death in a clash between two rival groups of the party at a polling station in Baluakandi union of Gazaria upazila.The deceased was identified as Shamsuddin Pradhan, 65, chairman of Baluakandi union parishad and president of the union unit of AL.
Presiding officer Sarwar Morshed Chowdhury said equipped with lethal weapons, supporters of AL-backed candidate Amirul Islam and AL rebel candidate Refayetullah Khan Tota locked in a clash in front of Dr Abdul Gaffar School and College polling centre in the morning, leaving Shamsuddin Pradhan dead on the spot.
The body of Shamsuddin was first taken to Gazaria upazila health complex and then to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
Meanwhile, the voting in the centre was postponed due to violence, said Sarwar Morshed Chowdhury.
Voting in two other centres of the upazila — Poikharpar Primary School and Baghaiakandi Primary School — was also postponed due to casting of fake votes, he added.
In Comilla, a young man was killed in police firing during a clash between Awami League and BNP activists at Maheshpur polling centre in Barura upazila.
The deceased was identified as Monir Hossain, 25, son of Mafiz Uddin of Hossainpur village in the upazila.
Police said when a group of BNP activists attacked Maheshpur polling centre to snatch ballot boxes, supporters of the Awami League candidates obstructed them, triggering a clash around 9:30am.
At one stage, police fired 30 rounds of bullets to disperse them. Monir received bullet wounds in his back during the incident.
He was rushed to Comilla Medical College Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries at about 4pm.
Meanwhile, Poura BNP general secretary Kabir Hossain Patwari claimed Monir to be a BNP activist.
In Jhalakati, a Jubo League activist was killed in an attack allegedly by the supporters of BNP candidate at a polling centre in Rajapur upazila.
The deceased was identified as Ripon Khalifa, 30, son of Sobhan Bepari of Tarabunia village in the upazila.
Witnesses said an altercation ensued between the supporters of Awami League and BNP candidates at Rajapur Tarabunia Government Primary School polling centre at noon.
At one stage, the BNP supporters hit Khalifa with sticks, leaving him critically injured.
Later, he died on the way to Barisal Shere-e-Bangla Medical College Hospital at about 3 pm.
In Brahmanbaria, a local leader of Jubo Dal was killed when members of Border Guard Bangladesh opened fire at a polling centre in Akhaura upazila.
The deceased was identified as Hadith Mia, joint secretary of Akhaura upazila unit of Jubo Dal.
Witnesses said on information that the supporters of Awami League candidate were sealing stamp on ballot papers at Taragon Government Primary School centre, BNP activists swooped on the polling centre at about 3:45 pm, triggering a clash.
At one stage, the BGB members opened fire to disperse the feuding groups, leaving Hadith injured.
Later, he died on the way to Sadar hospital at about 4 pm. -UNB
