Eight people were killed in clashes in Chattogram, Bogura and Chandpur districts during the 5th phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on Wednesday, including four in police firing.
In Bogura, five people were killed in during the election violence.
Of them four people were killed when police fired at the mob to bring the situation under control and another person was killed during a clash with the supporters of opponent group.
Of the deceased, Kulsum Akter, a member candidate and wife of Khokon of Kalaihata village in BaliaDighi union of Gabtoli upazila; Alamgir Hossain, son of Mokbul Hossain of the same village; brothers Abdur Rashid and Adur Razzak, sons of Ifat Ullah, all died in police firing.
District superintendent of police Sudeep Kumar Chakrabarti said that the supporters of boat symbol with other supporters of other candidates attacked police-BGB members and the executive magistrate, and vandalised government vehicles as the election results were delayed.
At this time police fired at the mob to bring the situation under control. Four people were shot dead in the incident.
Also in Bogura, another man named Zakir Hossain, 36, supporter of independent member candidate Saidul Islam, was killed in a clash between the supporters of two UP member candidates at Rameshwarpur union in Gabtoli upazila.
The clash began around 2:30pm at Jaiguli Govt High School ground in Rameshwarpur between the supporters of independent candidate Saidul Islam and another candidate Ferdous Hossain Mithu, leaving Zakir seriously injured.
Later, he was taken to Shaheed Ziaur Rahman Medical College and Hospital (SZMCH) where doctors declared him dead.
Zia Rafikul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Gabtoli Model Thana, said police brought the situation under control.
In Chandpur, two people were killed in separate incidents at Kachua and Haimchar upazila in violence during the UP elections.
One of the deceased, identified as Sharif Hossain, 18, was stabbed dead during the clash outside Hatirbandh Kendra at Sachar Union of Kachua Upazila, said additional superintendent of police Sudip Roy.
Another unidentified man, said to be in his early 40s, was killed at Ishanbala Ward-6 of Nilkamal Union in Haimchar Upazila, said Mahbubur Rahman Mollah, officer-in-charge (OC) of Haimchar Police Station.
In the fifth phase, Union Parishad elections took place in 29 unions of Chandpur where 162 candidates contested the polls for the post of chairman and 1,412 for the posts of general members and reserved members.
In Chattogram, a man was killed in a clash between the supporters of two member candidates at Chatori union in Anwara upazila.
The deceased was identified as Omkar Dutta, 32, a supporter of member candidate Dhananjoy Biswas contesting the polls with ‘Tubewell’ symbol.
Police said the clash broke out around 1:30pm at Singhora of Chatori between the supporters of independent candidate Nazim Uddin and another candidate Dhananjoy Biswas, leaving one dead on the spot and several others injured.
Didarul Islam, officer-in-charge (OC) of Anwara Police Station, said the situation is under control now.
In Boalkhali upazila, a local Awami League leader was seriously injured in an attack by his rival party men early Wednesday at Shikdarpara in Ahla Koroldenga union.
The injured was identified as Abdullah Al Harun Ripon, 32, general secretary of union unit AL.
He was sent to Chattogram Medical College and Hospital in a critical condition, said Abdul Karim, officer-in-charge of Boalkhali Police Station.
Source: United News of Bangladesh