Man shot dead in Narayanganj polling centre clash

A man was shot dead and 30 were injured, including 10 with bullets, during a gunfight between the supporters of Awami League- and BNP-backed mayoral candidates for municipality elections at a polling centre in Rupganj upazila of Narayanganj this morning.

Voting at Tarail Government Primary School polling centre was suspended following the clash, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.

Meanwhile, a clash between the supporters of two chairman candidates, loyal to AL and BNP, left over 20 people injured at another centre during the polls at Kanchan municipality around 10:30am.

Additional Superintendent of Police in Narayanganj Md Zakaria confirmed the death of Sukomol Datta, 55.

Supporters of AL-backed councillor candidate Mohan entered Tarail Government Primary School and opened fire in a bid to take control over the polling centre around 10:30am, said Md Asaduzaman, officer-in-charge of Rupganj Police Station.

The gunfight ensued when the supporters of BNP-backed mayoral candidate tried to resist them, the OC added.

The fighting groups also blasted at least 12 crude bombs during the clash that left Datta killed and over 30 injured including 10 by bullets, he said.

Datta was a betel leaf trader and resident of Tarail Paschim Para in the upazila.

Border Guard Bangladesh and police brought the situation under control firing blank shots at the polling centre.

At Hatabo Government Primary School polling centre around 10:45am, the supporters of chairman candidates Rafiqul Islam and Abul Bashar Badsha, loyal to AL and BNP respectively, locked into a clash, leaving 50 people injured.

Both the groups exploded several hand bombs during the clash, OC Asaduzzaman told our Narayanganj correspondent.

Following the clash voting at Hatabo Government Primary School polling centre was suspended for two and a half hours.

People of Kanchan municipality voted after 11 years to elect a mayor and councilors.