Death toll rises to 31
Two more people, who suffered bullet injuries in violence centring on the second phase union parishad (UP) elections, died yesterday.
Iqbal Hossain, 28, and Hasan Howladar, 32, died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital in the morning.
With the two, the death toll in violence over the two phases of the UP polls rose to 31.
Iqbal, a Jubo League activist from Sheikhhati village in Jessore Sadar upazila, was shot during a clash between the supporters of the Awami League and the BNP in the village over elections to Noapara UP on March 28.
He was first admitted to a local hospital and taken to the DMCH in a critical condition a day later. He died there around 6:00am yesterday, said his family members.
Hasan was one of the seven people who were shot during a clash between the supporters of two chairman candidates of Kunia UP in Madaripur Sadar upazila on Friday. He died around 5:30am yesterday.
In the second phase, 639 unions went to polls on March 31. The first phase elections were held in 725 UPs on March 22.
Widespread violence and irregularities marked both the phases, according to media reports.
Meanwhile, at least 80 people were injured in several districts on Friday night and yesterday in post-polls violence.
In Bogra, the local administration yesterday imposed Section-144 at a village in Sonatola upazila following a clash between supporters of a member-elect and a defeated rival.
At least eight people were injured in the clash in the morning. The restrictions on public gathering there will be in effect till 10:00am today.
Meanwhile, over 50 Hindu families at Laxmipur village under Dashmina upazila in Patuakhali are passing days amid fear of further attacks by supporters of AL rebel chairman aspirant Iqbal Mahmud Liton.
Iqbal was furious after local AL leader Goutam Roy got the party's nomination to contest the polls in Dashmina UP. During the polling on March 22, Liton's men attacked the houses of Goutam and his neighbours, and vandalised a temple, according to the victims.
The EC suspended voting to three polling stations of the UP.
Although a case was filed with Dashmina Police Station over the incident, no one was arrested, victims alleged.
In Thakurgaon, criminals set fire to a Hindu house on Friday night allegedly over a polls-related feud.
In Sunamganj, at least 40 people were injured in a clash between supporters of a member-elect and a defeated rival in Kalaruka UP of Chhatak upazila on Friday afternoon.
In the same UP, 10 others were injured when the supporters of a member-elect clashed with those loyal to a defeated member candidate around 6:00pm the same day.
In Pabna, at least 20 people were injured in post-election violence in Ramnagar area under Faridpur upazila Friday afternoon.
[Our correspondents in the districts concerned contributed to this report]
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