Two die in 7th phase UP polls violence  

At least two more people were killed in election violence in the seventh phase of polls held at 138 Union Parishads on Monday. 

So far, in the seven phases, a total of 98 people have been killed and about 1,000 injured in clashes on and before the election day. 

According to reports sent by our correspondents, incidents of clashes, ballot paper snatching and shootings took place at different poll centres during the election. 

Two people, including a teenager, were killed in election violence at Satkania upazila in Chattogram. They died in two unions.

According to local sources, clashes broke out between supporters of two chairman candidates at ward-2 of Bajalia union in Satkania on Monday afternoon. Abdur Shukkur, a supporter of boat symbol chairman candidate Tapas Kanti Dutt, was shot dead during the clash. The duty doctor declared him dead after he was rushed to a hospital.

A teenager named Tasif was also killed in election violence at ward-8 of Nalua union of the same upazila. Tasif, a seventh grader, was the nephew of Mizanur Rahman, a member candidate of ward-2 of the union.

7th phase UP polls underway 

Witnesses said a clash erupted between the supporters of boat symbol chairman candidate Liakot Ali and rebel candidate Mizanur Rahman after Liakot's supporters took position inside a poll centre of ward-8. At one stage, some people hacked Tasif, who was standing outside the centre, and fled the scene. In the end, supporters of the boat candidate took control of the centre.

Meanwhile, voting was postponed at the Government Primary School poll centre in ward-1 of Kompaniganj upazila in Noakhali after ballot papers were snatched from the centre.

According to local sources, a group of unruly people took position outside the centre intending to occupy it. At one stage, they set fire to chairs and tables outside the centre, and shortly afterwards, they snatched away the ballot papers. As a result, voting was postponed at that centre.

Meanwhile, several handmade bombs were exploded in an attempt to occupy a polling centre at Sadar upazila of Thakurgaon. Police detained a man named Moti Roy for involvement in the incident. At this time, some people snatched the seals of the ballot paper and fled the scene.

In the seventh phase of UP polls on Monday, 5,874 candidates contested in 138 union parishads of 24 upazilas in 20 districts. Of them, 576 candidates contested for the post of chairman, 1,236 for the post of reserved women members and 4,062 for the post of members.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in nine out of 138 unions while ballot papers were used in the remaining 129 unions.

A total of 71 candidates were elected uncontested in the seventh phase. Of them, 11 were elected as chairman, 13 as reserved women members and 47 as members.

Earlier, elections were held in 219 UPs on 31 January in the sixth phase. On 5 January, in the fifth phase, voting was held in 707 UPs. Besides, voting was held in 840 UPs in the fourth phase on 26 December last year; in 1007 UPs in the third phase on 26 November; in 833 UPs in the second phase on 11 November; and in 369 UPs in the first phase, held in two steps, on 21 June and 20 September.

Voting has been held in 3,975 UPs in these seven phases and it will be held in eight more UPs on 10 February.