Staff Reporter :
The sixth phase of Union Parishad (UP) polls was not free from violence as sporadic clashes were reported from different UP across the country.
A man was killed and 12 people suffered injuries on Saturday during a clash between the supporters of two member candidates in Pingna union parishad under Sarishabari upazila of Jamalpur.
The deceased is Bhola Sheikh, 60, Nalchanda village of the upazila, said Mir Rakibul Haque, the officer-in-charge of the Sarishabari police station.
Witnesses said Bhola died after a clash broke out between the supporters of Nurul Islam and Sujat Ali, member candidates of ward-3 of the UP, at about 10:00am over campaigning near Fazlu member’s house at Paschim Nalchanda village in Pingna union.
In Thakurgaon, three journalists were left seriously injured by criminals on Saturday as they were collecting news on upcoming UP elections in the district.
The injured journalists are – Tanvir Hossain Tanu, district correspondent of Independent television, Mainuddin Talukdar Himel, the correspondent for RisingBD news portal, and Sohel Rana, correspondent of NewsBangla24 and Doinik Bhorer Akash.
A total of 218 union parishads (UPs) elections held on Monday. Electronic voting machines (EVM) used in 216 unions and ballots in two unions.
Over 11,600 candidates are contesting for various posts in 218 UPs under 42 upazilas in 22 districts of the country. Of them, 1,199 are contesting for the post of chairman, 2,559 for the reserved women member post and 7,846 for the general member post.
However, 144 candidates have already been elected unopposed. Of them, 12 were elected for chairman post, 32 for reserved women member post and 100 for general member post.
Earlier, in the five phases of UP polls, about 95 people were killed and about 1,000 injured in electoral clashes and violence across the country. The number of voters in the sixth phase of UP polls is 41,82,263.
