Two persons died and at least 30 people, including a policeman, were injured in separate poll-related violence during the fifth phase of the upazila elections in Laksmipur and Moulvibazar yesterday.
Locals and police said local Awami league leader Mohammad Kabir was shot dead by miscreants at Durgapur village under Digholi union at Lakshmipur Sadar upazila early morning on the polling day.
They further added that Kabir was killed when he was putting up posters for the polls near the Durgapur government primary school area.
Meanwhile, Awami League rebel candidate Mohi Uddin Bokul of the same area alleged that AL-backed candidate AKM Salah Uddin Tipu and his agents had rigged the vote and had ousted his polling agents from the centres.
Through a press briefing at his residence, Bokul boycotted the polls and demanded fresh polls in the area, adds our Lakshmipur correspondent.
Meanwhile, BNP-backed candidate at the same upazila Mahmudul Karim Dipu also demanded fresh polls through a letter to Zila Retuning Officer upon same allegations.
In Moulvibazar, one man drowned after falling into a pond when members of Border Guard Bangladesh (BGB) chased supporters of candidates from in front a polling centre at Rajanagar upazila yesterday afternoon.
Shamim Ahmed, 50, son of one Shariful Islam, was died on spot when he fell into the pond while trying to flee the action around 3:30pm, Moulvibazar Police Superintendent Md Ashraful Islam confirmed. His body was sent to Moulvibazar Sadar Hospital for autopsy.
At Laksmipur’s Sadar upazila, five people were injured when police fired on BNP activists when they tried to take control of the Mandari City High School polling centre.
Meanwhile, miscreants snatched away three ballot boxes from Protapganj High School polling centre, confirmed Presiding Officer Oliur Rahman.
Apart from that, Jamaat-e-Islami and Islami Chhatra Shibir activists allegedly attacked at four polling centres in Jhauthogi Government Primary School, Char Ababil, Taheria RM Fazil Madrassah, and at Uttar Char Lokkhi Primary School at Raypur upazila in the morning.
Later, a clash erupted when the Jamaat-Shibir activists tried to snatch ballot papers from the centres.
At least 10 people, including a policeman, were injured during the clash.. Later, the administration suspended the voting at Jhautogi centre.
Meanwhile, five people, including three journalists, were injured while BNP activists tried to snatch away the ballot papers from Nayanpur Government Primary School polling centre at Ramganj.
Alleging irregularities, BNP candidate from the area Abdur Rahman VP boycotted the poll through a press conference.
A clash and chase counter-chase also took place at Ahmadia College, Station Government Primary School, and Polonti Mongol high school polling, where at least 10 people were injured. The injured have been taken to Noakhali Hospital for treatment.