At least one person has been hacked and 20 others injured during what apparently was a violence-marred upazila election in Kolaroa upazila, Satkhira.
Votes were temporarily halted in Chandanpur High School centre after Awami League and Jamaat-e-Islami supporters clashed around 11:30am, locals said.
Presiding Officer Asaduzzaman Chandan said voting at this centre was temporarily halted because of inappropriate environment.
Jamaat-e-Islami alleged use of force by Awami League supporters in the election. They said many of the polling stations were occupied by Awami League supporters.
A Jamaat supporter Abdul Jalil has been hacked in Shankarpur centre, Jamaat-endorsed chairman candidate Sahidul Islam Mukul suspected.
“Awami League supporters have ousted our supporters from several polling stations. At least 20 of our supporters have been injured in attacks in several centres.”
Satkhira Returning Officer Mohasin Ali said he received several complaints of obstruction to vote in several polling stations. “Law enforcers have been asked to act immediately.”
Awami League-sponsored chairman candidate Firoz Ahmed Swapan refuted all allegations and claimed it was Jamaat who were attacking his supporters everywhere.
Kolaroa police Officer-in-Charge Munshi Mofazzal Hossain said he heard about clashes in several areas.
He added: “But, no one has filed any formal complaints.”