Dhaka – Twelve people, including three in Jamalpur, were killed and over 60 others injured as the 5th phase of Union Parishad election was marred by violence and irregularities on Saturday, unb news agency reported.
A presiding officer of a polling station in Patia upazila of Chittagong district died due to cardiac arrest during the balloting in the afternoon.The balloting for the lowest tier of local government election started at 8am and will continue till 4pm without any break through 6,484 polling stations.
Three people were killed in Jamalpur district, two each in Noakhali and Chittagong and one in Comilla.
In Dewaganj of Jamalpur 20 people were injured in a police firing and 11 others in Burichong and Meghna upazila of Comilla, 25 in Sadar upazila of Laxmipur and two each in Chittagong and Noakhali.
According to reports reaching the UNB news desk, three people — Ziaur Rahman, 33, son of Nurul Islam, Majez, 15, son of Afzal Sheikh, and Nurul Islam, 55, son of Hafez Uddin — were killed and several others injured in a triangular clash between police and the supporters of two chairman candidates at Khutirchar Ebtadaye Madrasah Polling Station in Dewanganj upazila of Jamalpur district around 10:35am, police super Nizam Uddin said.
The clash ensued between two groups while one of them tried to take control of the polling station in Bahadurabad union.
Later, the voting at the polling centre was suspended on allegation of capturing the centre during election.
Police fired 100 rounds of bullets to bring the situation under control, leaving 20 people injured.
In Chittagong, three people, including Mohammad Yasin, 40, a member candidate, suffered injures during a clash between Awami League backed-chairman candidate and its rival candidate at Shah Mirpur Government Primary School in Karnaphuli Police Station around 12:30pm.
They were taken to Chittagong Medical College Hospital (CMCH) where doctor declared Yasin dead, said sub-inspector of the CMCH police camp Zahirul Islam. Another injured Mohhamed Hossain succumbed to his injuries at the hospital, said ASI of CMCH police camp Pankaj.
In another incident, a presiding officer of Haitgaon Kazipara Gov Primary School polling station in Patia upazila died due to cardiac arrest in the afternoon, said Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Abul Hashem.
Besides, Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) members arrested Abdul Kader Sujon, secretary of information and research affairs of district unit Awami League, along with a bag from Bhushi polling centre under Karaldanga union in Boalkhali upazila in the morning.
In Noakhali, Sirajul Islam, 50, an Awami League activist, was shot dead and six others were injured in a clash between the supporters of Awami League and BNP at Rajganj Government High School polling centre in Rajganj union in Begumganj upazila in the morning, said Illias Sharif, superintendent of police of Noakhali.
Besides, at least 20 crude bombs were exploded at Yaarpur Government Primary School polling centre in Kabilpur union of Senbagh upazila.
Two youths-Shakil and Rabbi- received bullet wound during a clash at K B high school polling centre in Kalikapur village of Zirtoli union of Begumganj upazila, said Ilius Sharif, superintendent of police of Noakhali.
