Voting in Bangladesh Marred by Violence; One Killed, 10 Injured in Clash Between Awami League and BNP

Dhaka: A Jubo League leader was killed and 10 others injured in a clash between the ruling Awami League and opposition BNP supporters on Sunday in Rangamati’s Kawkhali in Bangladesh as the country began voting for the parliamentary elections on Sunday. 

The deceased was identified as Md Basir Uddin, the Jubo League general secretary of Ghagra Union, Bdnews24 reported. “Jubo League and BNP activists clashed at 6:30am (local time) in Ghagra Union’s Rangipara. Shots were fired,” the news website reported, citing an official.

“Basir and 10 others were injured in the clash. Basir was taken to Chattogram Medical College Hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” the official said. The injured were admitted to Kawkhali Upazila Health Complex, said upazila Awami League General Secretary Ershad Mia. The Jubo League is the youth wing of the ruling Awami League. 

Voting began at 8 am local time (0200 GMT) across more than 40,000 polling stations and is expected to conclude at 4 pm (1000 GMT). Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who is seeking a fourth straight term in power, was the first voter at the Dhaka City College centre in the capital where her lawyer nephew and party candidate Fazle Nur Taposh was a contender.

Over six lakh security personnel, including several thousand soldiers and paramilitary border guards, have been deployed across the country.