Five people were shot among 10 who sustained injuries during clashes between supporters of the ruling Awami League and an independent candidate in the upazila parishad election in Mymensingh's Tarakanda upazila.
The incident occurred when clashes broke out between supporters of Nuruzzaman Sarkar Bakul, an independent candidate running under the horse symbol, and supporters of the Awami League candidate.
The five wounded by gunshot were supporters of Nuruzzaman Sarkar Bakul.
Awami League supporters staged a protest by blocking the bus stand area of Tarakanda from 8pm on Thursday. They also set tires ablaze on the Mymensingh-Sherpur highway near the Zaman filling station.
The injured individuals have been admitted to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital for treatment.
Nuruzzaman Sarkar Bakul, the independent candidate, stated: "The supporters of the Awami League candidate ambushed us after realizing their impending defeat. Two out of the five gunshot victims are in critical condition. If anyone loses their life, neither I nor my supporters will spare anyone responsible for this attack. Upazila Jubo League President Abdul Mannan led the assault today. My election office and shops were vandalized."
Advocate Fazlul Haque, the candidate running under the Awami League's boat symbol, said: "When supporters of the independent candidate attacked our people, we defended ourselves, resulting in injuries to several of our supporters."
Tarakanda police station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Abul Khair confirmed the clash, adding: "Additional police forces have been deployed to restore order. We are engaging in dialogue with supporters from both sides to bring the situation under control."