4 killed many injured in Bangladesh rural UP Polls violence

Representational image. Election violence in Bandarban - UNB

At least four more persons died and hundreds of others got injured in violence across the country during the third phase of Union Parishad election held on Sunday.

Two persons were killed in Jashore and Khulna districts a few hours before of the beginning of the 3rd phase Union Parishad elections on Sunday morning.

In Khulna, a 38-year-old man was beaten to death reportedly by the supporters of a rebel candidate of Awami League at Madhupur in Terokhada upazila of Khulna district on Sunday.

The deceased was identified as Babul Shikdar, 38, a supporter of Awami League-backed chairman candidate Mohammad Mohsin.

Quoting local people, Zahurul Alam, Officer-in-Charge of Terokhada Police Station, said the supporters of rebel candidate Kamal Hossain swooped on Babul Shikdar around 12:15 am on his way to home.They hit Babul with a hammer and stabbed him indiscriminately, leaving him critically injured.

Babul was taken to Khulna Medical College and Hospital where he succumbed to his injuries around 6:15 am.

In Lakshmipur, a leader of Bangladesh Chhatra League was reportedly killed by the supporters of rebel Awami League candidate .

Deceased Sajib was the president of Isapur Union Chhatra League.

Anwar Hossain, Officer-in-Charge of Ramganj Police Station, confirmed the news to the media on Sunday evening.

The supporters of AL rebel candidate reportedly hacked Sajeeb from Narayanpur Government Primary School polling centre in the afternoon. He breathed his last while being taken to Dhaka in a critical condition.

In Narsingdi, one killed and 20 people were injured in isolated attacks, chases, cocktail explosions and shootings in different unions during the third phase of Union Parishad election. The clashes took place at different polling stations in Karimpur, Nazarpur, Chinishpur and Palashtali Union of Raipura Upazila on Sunday afternoon.

According to sources, one was killed, 10 others injured in police car attack after counting of votes in Narsingdi's Raipura.

In Jashore, a 35-year-old man was killed and a dozen others injured in a clash between the supporters of two member candidates at Kaiba union in Sharsha upaizla on Saturday night.

The deceased was identified as Kutub Uddin, 35, supporter of Iktiar Rahman, a member candidate of Ward-1 of the union and son of Mohiuddin of Rudrapur village.

Quoting local people, Rupon Kumar Sarkar, inspector of DB police, said the supporters of the current member Habibur Rahman, equipped with arms, attacked Kutub while he was pasting posters on behalf of Iktiar at Rudrapur around 6:00 pm on Saturday.

In Cumilla, a chase and counter-chase happened among the supporters of two chairman candidates over stuffing ballots at Saifullakandi Primary School under Mathabhanga union of Homna upazila in Cumilla district. A number of crude bombs were exploded outside the polling centre. On information, police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control.

In Dinajpur, three people were detained for casting fake votes in union parishad polls in Dinajpur's Nawabganj upazila on Sunday.

The detainees have been identified as Sumon Islam, 20, of Azampur village, Shohidul Islam, 22, of Chairmanpara, and Kamruzzaman, 17.

In the first phase of union parishad election three people were also killed and many others were injured. Sporadic violence and clashes marked the polls on 20 September.

In the 2nd phase of the Union Parishad (UP) elections on 11 November six people were killed and over 100 others injured. - Agencies