Dhaka, Bangladesh (BBN)- At least 11 people were killed in six districts of Bangladesh as violent clashes, aimed at foiling the 10th general election, erupted on Sunday across the country centring the polls boycotted by the opposition.
Among the deceased, three were killed in Dinajpur, two each in Rangpur and Nilphamari and Feni districts, one each in Laxmipur and Munshiganj districts.
Three people, including an Ansar member and a BNP leader, were killed in separate incidents of election violence in Dinajpur, according to reports.
Besides, two activists of Jamaat-e-Islami and its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir were killed in police firing at Deuti in Pirgachha upazila in Rangpur, while two Jamaat men died in clashes between police and anti-election activists at Balapara village in Jaldhaka and Dimla upazilas in Nilphamari.
In Feni, a local leader of Jubo Dal and another of Chhatra Dal, were killed and 15 others, including four with bullets, were injured in a clash with police at North Charchandia village in Sonagazi upazila while an unidentified youth died as he fell into a water body after being chased by police in Tongibari upazila in Munshiganj.
Scores of polling stations -- mostly schools -- and election materials have been torched and vandalised, forcing the election office to suspend voting at 161, The Daily Star, a local newspaper, reported.
Frustrated over the one-sided nature of the polls, voters also seem to be afraid of the widespread violence that began with attacks on the polling centres Friday night, the newspaper added.
BBN/SSR/AD-05Jan14-4:23 pm (BST)