A teenager has been killed in a clash between two groups of youth in front of a polling centre in Chandpur town during the municipal election voting.
The clash took place outside the Gani Model High School around 12:30pm on Saturday, according to witnesses and police.
The deceased was identified as Yasin Mollah, 17, son of Harunur Rashid Kalu Mollah of the town’s Koralia area.
Witnesses and Chandpur model police station OC Nasim Uddin said the two groups of youths had started fighting over a “senior-junior issue” outside the center during voting. At one point, Yasin was struck on the throat with a knife, leaving him seriously injured.
He was immediately rushed to Chandpur 250-Bed General Hospital, from where doctors referred to a Dhaka hospital for better treatment. But Yasin succumbed to his injuries on the way.
Chandpur 250-Bed General Hospital’s Resident Medical Officer Dr Sujauddoula Rubel said Yasin died from excessive bleeding from his throat wound.
Awami League’s candidate Zillur Rahman Jewel, BNP’s candidate Aktar Hossain Majhi, and Islami Andolan candidate Mamunur Rashid Belal are contesting in the election for the post of Chandpur municipality mayor.
A total of 67 candidates from different parties, including 50 for general councillor and 14 for reserved women councillor posts, are also in the fray.
However, several hours after the clash, Aktar and Mamunur boycotted the polls around 3pm, alleging gross irregularities, voting centre occupancy and vote rigging by ruling party men.