UNB, Dhaka :
At least 29 people were killed and over 500 injured in January last during clashes centering the fifth and sixth phases of Union Parishad elections across the country.
Manabadhikar Shangskriti Foundation (MSF) revealed the data after collecting information about 109 reported incidents of election-linked violence from different media.
According to the MSF, the violence during the Upazila and Union Parishad elections this year broke all the previous records.
Of the deceased, one was shot dead by his rival group while four others by members of law enforcement agencies, the MSF report says.
The highest number of seven people died in Bagura district while five in Jhenidah, three in Chandpur and two in Narsingdi districts.
On January 5, police fired 25 gunshots as the supporters of a chairman candidate vandalised a centre and attacked law enforcers, administrative officers over the announcement of resuts in Gabtoli upazila, Bagura.
Four people, including a woman, died during the clash while five others suffered serious wounds, said the report.
A 50-year-old woman, Sumela Khatun, died after suffering a cardiac arrest at a voting centre in Doulatpur upazila of Manikganj during a chase and counter-chase between the supporters of two member candidates on the same day.
On January 12, a 30-year-old man, Anwarul Islam, was killed reportedly by a newly elected UP member over the election at Kaliganj upazila in Lalmonirhat.
According to the MSF findings, the deaths from election-related violence stood at 92 and the number of injured were more than 4,000 as of December 31, 2021.
