2 injured in Munshiganj poll clashes

Supporters of two rival candidates backed by Awami League and BNP clashed in four polling stations in Munshiganj district during Thursday’s Upazila (UZ) elections. A local BNP leader and his son were injured in the series of clashes at Hossain Ali High School polling centre in Srinagar Upazila. The clashes occurred one hour after the polling started at 8am on Thursday, police said. Injured Ayat Ali, 50, and his son Mamun Dewan, 25, were admitted to Sadar Hospital. Local BNP blamed the Awami League for the attacks. The clashes erupted following an argument between two activists of local units Awami League and BNP. The activists of both parties then engaged in a chase and counter chase and the clash spread to Chariparha Government Primary School in the same Upazila. Voting was suspended for around half an hour in the polling station, said the district’s Superintendent of Police Habibur Rahman. Activists of two parties also clashed in two other polling stations. A BNP-backed candidate also alleged rigging in some polling centres. But Deputy Commissioner Md Saiful Hassan Badal said they had not found any proof of rigging, according to bdnews24.com.