AL 41, BNP 28, Jamaat 7, PCJSS 2, LDP 1

The Awami League (AL) has shrugged off a strong challenge from the BNP to win the third phase of the Upazila (UZ) Parishad polls and make up some ground lost earlier in the staggered balloting. The unofficial results of 79 of 81 UZs were declared on Sunday. Results of two UZs were not announced as voting in many centres in those areas were countermanded due to violence. Candidates loyal to the AL won the chairman post in 41 UZs while the BNP-endorsed chairman aspirants had the last laugh in 28. The BNP's ally Jamaat-e-Islami's candidates won in seven UZs, Parbatya Chattagram Jana Sanghati Samiti (PCJSS), a CHT-based platform, won in two upazilas in Rangamati and the other went to an LDP loyalist. According to bdnews24.com the 3rd phase voting in the local government polls in 81 UZs in 41 districts was marked by violence. Agencies report at least three people died in poll-related violence in Bagerhat's Sadar upazila, Shariatpur's Naria upazila and Netrakona/s Madan upazila. Voting at 26 centres in 13 UZs were also halted due to unrest. A supporter of a BNP rebel candidate was shot dead allegedly by the supporters of a BNP-backed candidate at Fatehpur village in Madan upazila during the hustings on Saturday. The deceased was identified as Genu Miah, 32, an activist of BNP rebel chairman candidate and son of Abdul Jabbar of Tolaram village of the upazila. Earlier, a Shibir activist was stabbed to death in an attack allegedly by the ruling party activists in Megnitola area in Bagerhat Sadar upazila. Jamaat-e-Islami's district unit claimed the murdered youth was an activist of its student wing Islami Chhatra Shibir. The deceased was identified as Manzarul Islam, 21, a sathi (member) of the local unit of Shibir. Another man was criticaly injured in the attack which took place during the balloting in the morning.