At least one person was killed and over a dozen were injured in violence over union parishad polls in several districts in last two days.

With this, around 115 people have been killed so far in poll-related violence since the announcement of the election schedule in February, according to media reports and Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik.

In Narsingdi, a youth was killed and 10 people were injured and 10 houses were vandalised during a clash between supporters of a defeated chairman candidate and newly elected chairman of Nilakkya union in Raipura upazila yesterday.

The dead is Liton Miah, 28, of Amirabad village in the same union.

The clash broke when supporters of Chairman Tajul Islam attacked the supporters of Abdul Haque Sarker at Atoshali Bazar area around noon.

A supporter of Sarker, Liton died on the spot when a crude bomb went off, said witnesses.

Azaharul lslam, officer-in-charge of Raipura Police Station, said additional law enforcers were deployed there to avoid further clashes.

Election to the UP was held on May 7.

In Bogra, at least four BNP men were injured in an attack allegedly by some Awami League men in Gohali Bazar of Gohali union in Shahjahanpur upazila on Tuesday afternoon.

The attack took place when some BNP men were electioneering for the party chairman candidate.

In Manikganj, some Hindus formed human chain in front of the district press club yesterday demanding punishment of attackers of Ananda Saha, a defeated independent chairman aspirant at Bhararia union under Manikganj Sadar upazila.

They alleged that supporters of AL candidate Anwar Hossain Angur launched an attack on Ananda, his brother Chandan Saha and some of his supporters around 11:45pm on Monday when they were taking tea at Amar Kanon tea stall at Bhararia Bazar.

Armed with iron rods, bamboo sticks and sharp weapons, the attackers beat them up and looted gold jewellery worth about Tk 3.45 lakh and mobile handsets worth around Tk 60,000 from them, alleged the protesters.

The May 28 polls to the UP saw independent candidate Abdul Kader unofficially elected chairman.

[Our correspondents in Narsingdi, Bogra and Manikganj contributed to this report.]

The staggered union parishad elections, the deadliest in the country's electoral history, ended yesterday with four more lives lost in polls violence.

More than 150 people were wounded, as the election to 698 union parishads in the sixth and last phase also saw incidents of violence and polls irregularities.

The four deaths were reported from Mymensingh, Noakhali, Feni and Sunamganj.

At least 126 people lost their lives in violence since the announcement of the polls schedule in February. Of them, 40 were killed on the six voting days and the rest in pre-and post-polls violence.

In the UP polls of 2011, 27 people were killed in violence while the number was 80 in the 2003 election. Thirty-one lives were lost in violence in the 1997 UP polls and 80 in the 1988 election.

As in the previous five phases of the polls this year, supporters of chairman and member candidates, mostly from the ruling Awami League, yesterday resorted to various irregularities, including capture of polling stations, stuffing of ballot boxes and casting of fake votes in more than 50 unions, according to reports from The Daily Star correspondents.

They got locked in fierce clashes, and chase and counter-chase during the voting that began at 8:00am and ended at 4:00pm without any   break.

With yesterday's voting, elections to around 4,000 union parishads, the lowest tier of local governments, came to an end.

In Mymensingh, a man died and 25 others were injured in election violence at a polling station in Saltia union of Gafargaon upazila.

The dead was identified as Shahjahan Mia, 52, from Bagua village. Three critically wounded persons were sent to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, reports our correspondent.

Quoting locals, Habibur Rahman, officer-in-charge (investigation) of Gafargaon Police Station, said two member candidates' supporters with firearms and sharp weapons clashed at Pukuria Government Primary School polling station around 2:30pm.

On information, police and BGB personnel rushed to the spot and fired some 70 shots to bring the situation under control.

At least 25 people were wounded in the clash -- three of them bullet-hit.

Police, however, couldn't confirm whether the three were injured in police firing or in fight between rival groups.

Shahjahan, cousin of a member candidate, fell ill during the clash and was taken to his house close to the polling centre, said the OC.

As his condition worsened, he was taken to Gafargaon Upazila Health Complex where he died around 3:15pm, he said.

The cause of his death would be confirmed after autopsy, said the OC.

No case was filed and none was arrested in this connection.

In Noakhali, a Chhatra League leader was killed and seven ruling party men were injured in a clash between supporters of two rival member candidates at Bholanagor Mohammadia Ebtadai Madrasa Centre in sadar upazila.

The dead, Yasir Arafat 26, son of Mohammad Selim of Bholanagar village, was a ward-level BCL general secretary.

Newazpur Union BCL President Yasin Palash said all the injured are involved with the BCL.

Locals said followers of two rival member candidates -- Abul Hashem Bachchu and Shahadat Hossain Kamal -- were locked in a clash over occupying the polling centre around 9:30am, reports our correspondent.

At one stage, Kamal's supporters opened fire and attacked their rivals with sharp weapons, they said.

Arafat and seven others suffered bullet and stab wounds. They were rushed to Noakhali General Hospital.

As Arafat's condition deteriorated, doctors there referred him to Dhaka Medical college Hospital. He died on the way to the DMCH.

In Feni, a man was shot dead and 28 people were wounded -- 20 of them bullet-hit -- in violence at different polling centres in Sonagazi upazila, reports UNB.

The dead, Nur Hossain Shipon, 22, son of Abdul Karim, was a resident of Dakkhin Char Kandia union of the upazila.

Around 10:00am, a clash erupted between the supporters of AL-backed chairman candidate Mosharraf Hossain and BNP-backed candidate Shamsuddin Khokan at Tofael Ahmed High School polling centre in the union.

The rival groups exchanged gunfire, leaving Shipon dead on the spot.

Two assistant presiding officers, two female polling officers, four policemen and three Ansar members suffered bullet injuries during the clash.

The injured were admitted to Sonagazi Upazila Health Complex.

Besides, 17 people were injured in violence in several polling centres in the upazila. Nine of them were hit by bullets.

Police arrested a presiding officer, Md Nurunnabi, with around 800 ballot papers having seals of “boat” symbol, adds our correspondent.

He was caught while stamping ballot papers at Char Sahabibari Government Primary School centre in Char Darbesh union.

In Sunamganj, a youth was killed and eight others were wounded in a clash between supporters of two member candidates over polls results at Paikurati Government Primary School polling station in Dharmapasha upazila.

The deceased, Kohinur Chowdhury, 18, of Paikurati union was the son of a member candidate, said Golam Kibria, officer-in-charge of Dharmapasha Police Station.

Kohinur suffered head injuries during the clash around 6:00pm. He was whisked off to Dharmapasha Upazila Health Complex where doctors pronounced him dead around 7:40pm.

In Chittagong, incidents of arson attack, vandalism, clash and chase and counter-chase took places in at least four of the 10 unions in Anwara upazila. At least 11 people were injured -- three of them by bullets.

In Jessore, Hasan Firoz Ahmed, AL-nominated chairman candidate from Kaiba union in Sharsha upazila, got injured as his private car came under attack from rival groups at Rudrapur Government Primary School centre.

Stray incidents of violence and irregularities also took place in Narsingdi, Rajshahi, Tangail, Jessore, Bogra, Pirojpur, Laxmipur, Comilla, Brahmanbaria, Kishoreganj, Sherpur, Chandpur and Pabna.

INJURED MAN DIES

A man, who was injured in a clash in the fifth phase of the UP polls in Pabna on May 28, succumbed to his wounds yesterday morning at Rajshahi Medical College Hospital (RMCH), say police.

The victim, Sirajul Islam, 48, was a local AL activist and supporter of a member candidate in Sahapur union of Ishwardi upazila, reports our Pabna correspondent.

Many incidents of violence and irregularities marred the voting in the fourth phase of the union parishad polls yesterday as four more lives were lost and scores injured in clashes across the country.

Meanwhile, two people were killed and at least 50 others injured in a clash between supporters of an Awami League candidate and police at Auchpara union under Bagmara upazila of Rajshahi where polls were supposed to be held yesterday.

The dead are Siddiqur Rahman and Jahidul Islam. Details of their identities could not be known until filing of this report early today.

Locals said the situation at the union had been tense for the last couple of days. The Election Commission on Thursday night postponed the polls in the union following allegations that local AL lawmaker Enamul Haque (Rajshahi-4) was influencing the elections.

Although violence and irregularities were reported in many unions, a large number of voters turned up at the polling centres yesterday to exercise their franchise in the UP polls, considered the most competitive of all elections.

Like in the previous three phases of the UP polls, supporters of chairman and member candidates yesterday indulged in irregularities, including capturing polling stations, stuffing ballot boxes and casting fake votes in over 75 unions. Supporters, mostly of the ruling AL nominees, used firearms and sharp weapons during the clashes.

Some polling officials were also involved in irregularities. Eleven polling officials were detained on charges of committing irregularities. Voting at 51 polling stations in 37 unions was suspended due to violence and irregularities, according to EC officials.

The first two phases of the UP polls on March 22 and 31 saw deadly violence across the country that left 18 people killed and several thousand injured on the polling days. The third phase saw one killed, but numerous incidents of irregularities were reported.

Shushashoner Jonno Nagorik (Shujan), a civil society platform, has put the number of death at 71 in violence over UP polls till Thursday.

Elections to 733 UPs are slated for May 28 in the fifth phase while around 700 more unions will go to polls in the sixth and final phase on June 4, said EC officials.

Elections to 725 UPs were held on March 22 in the first phase, 639 UPs on March 31 and 615 UPs on April 22 in the second and third phases.

CLASHES CLAIM LIVES

In Comilla, a youth was hacked to death and at least 10 people were injured when supporters of two member candidates clashed outside a polling station at Madhabpur union of Brahmanpara upazila.

The dead, Tapash Chandra Das, 40, was a trader at Uttar Chandola village of the union. He left behind his wife and four children.

Witnesses said supporters of member candidates Sultan Ahmed and Mohammad Rezaul fought outside the Uttar Chandola Govt Primary School polling centre around 10:30am.

During the clash, some people attacked Tapash with sharp weapons, leaving him dead on the spot, said SM Badiuzzaman, officer-in-charge of Brahmanpara Police Station.

Voting was suspended at the polling centre. The presiding officer and seven assistant presiding officers were “detained for neglecting duties”, said police.

Presiding Officer Binoy Bhushan Nath said some people stormed into the polling booths at the centre, snatched the ballot boxes and started stuffing those. Some member candidates along with their supporters also entered the booths and started stuffing ballots that led to the clash.

In Thakurgaon, a teenage boy was killed and another man injured when police opened fired to disperse clashing supporters of two member candidates at Taldanga Majhkhuria village in Baliadangi upazila.

The dead is Mahbubur Rahman Poltu, 17, of Majhkhuria village in the upazila.

Aminul Islam, OC of Baliadangi Police Station, said supporters of member candidates Gias Uddin and Shah Alam got involved in a clash around 3:00pm.

At one stage, police fired shots at the unruly supporters of Gias Uddin when they tried to snatch ballot boxes from the polling booths at Taldanga Dakhil Madrasa polling centre. Mahbubur and one Nazim Uddin were hit by bullets.

Locals sent the two to Baliadangi Upazila Health Complex where Mahbubur died of his wounds. Nazim was later shifted to Rangpur Medical College Hospital as his condition deteriorated.

In Narsingdi, a supporter of an independent chairman candidate was killed in an attack allegedly by the activists of the AL candidate at Paratoli union under Raipura upazila.

The victim, Hossain Ali, 60, went to cast his vote at Moddhanagar Govt Primary School centre, said witnesses.

When he reached the centre, supporters of AL candidate Masudur Rahman asked him to cast vote for “boat” symbol. As he refused to comply, the AL men got into an altercation with him.

At one stage, the AL men stabbed Hossain with a sharp weapon.

Hossain was taken to the upazila health complex where he died of his wounds.

In Sadullapur of Gaibandha, a man was killed when police opened fire on supporters of AL rebel candidate Rafiqul Islam last night.

The dead is Lebu Mia, 35, of Damdari village in Pirganj upazila of Rangpur.

Farhad Imrul Kayes, OC of Sadullapur Police Station, said supporters of the AL rebel candidate blocked the Dhaka-Rangpur highway in Dhaperhat Bazar area around 8:00pm, demanding announcement of polls results at the polling centres.

Trying to clear the protesters from the road, police and BGB men fired shots at them, leaving around 10, including Lebu, injured.

Lebu was taken to Rangpur Medical College Hospital where doctors declared him dead.

In Raipura upazila of the district, three people were injured in a clash between supporters of an AL candidate and an independent candidate at Sreenagar union.

In Comilla, law enforcers detained four presiding officers at different polling centres on charges of involvement in irregularities.

A mobile court awarded Mobarok Hossain, presiding officer of Jugirhat Etimkhana polling centre, and four others six month's imprisonment each on charges of vote rigging before the start of the voting yesterday morning.

In Sherpur, a mobile court sentenced a presiding officer to seven days in jail and a member candidate to one month in jail over a “bribe deal" at Hatibandha union of Jhenaigati upazila, reports our correspondent.

Locals and police said Abdul Barik, presiding officer of Loykha Govt Primary School polling centre, went to the house of member candidate Saifuddin early yesterday for making an underhand deal.

Locals caught the two red-handed and handed them over to police.

Violence and irregularities were also reported in Feni, Madaripur, Chuadanga, Sylhet, Kushtia, Laxmipur, Chittagong, Munshiganj, Meherpur, Pabna, Natore and Jamalpur.

VIOLENCE IN RAJSHAHI

The situation in Bagmara upazila turned for the worse yesterday when the supporters of AL nominee Sardar Jaan Mohammad and party rebel candidate Shahiduzzaman chased and counter chased at Hat Gangupara Bazar of Auchpara union, OC Motiar Rahman of Bagmara Police Station told The Daily Star.

In the evening, several hundred supporters of Jaan Mohammad attacked two villages and vandalised houses of at least 30 supporters of Shahiduzzaman, the OC said.

When they were returning to Hat Gangupara Bazar firing shots in the air, police intercepted them. The unruly men attacked law enforcers, leaving seven cops injured, added Motiar.

Police then opened fire on the attackers to disperse them. A little later, cops found Siddiqur and Jahidul lying dead in the area.

At least 50 people were injuries in the incident. Eight of them were sent to Rajshahi Medical College while the injured cops were admitted to Rajshahi Police Lines Hospital.

JOURNOS ASSAULTED

Two journalists were beaten up allegedly by AL men at a polling centre at Barha union under Nawabganaj upazila of Dhaka.

Tapos Kanti Das, senior reporter of the New Age, said he along with photojournalist Indrajit Ghosh of the newspaper went to Agla Choukighata Janamangal High School polling centre yesterday.

When the two entered the centre around 10:40am, some people wearing badges of “boat” symbol intercepted them and asked them why they were seeking votes for “pineapple” symbol.

As the two introduced themselves as newsmen and informed that they knew none of the chairman aspirants, the AL supporters assaulted the journalists and drove them out of the polling centre.

BGB MAN 'COMMITS SUICIDE'

In Jamalpur, a Border Guard Bangladesh member “committed suicide” by shooting himself with his gun in a bathroom of an auditorium in Madarganj upazila town, reports our correspondent.

The deceased, 22-year-old Mahmudul Hasan, was a member of 35 BGB Battalion. He came to Madarganj to discharge polls duties, said Rampada Mandal, officer-in-charge of Madarganj Police Station.

He went to the bathroom around 4:00pm and shot himself with the firearm. He died on the spot. The reason for the suicide could not be known, the OC added.

Police sent the body to Jamalpur General Hospital morgue for an autopsy. 

Leaders of minority communities today urged the government and law enforcement agencies to ensure security of the minority people during the upcoming parliamentary elections.

The leaders also urged the political parties not to nominate such leaders who work against interests of minorities.

While briefing reporters at Dhaka Reporters’ Unity, Rana Dasgupta, general secretary of Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad, said, “Those who are involved in the activities against the interests of the minority people should not be made candidates for the upcoming 11th parliamentary elections".

A committee, convened by Rana, was also formed with 17 organisations to push for their demands.

They will march towards the prime minister office in Dhaka from the Jatiya Press Club on September 14 to press home their demands.