One killed in pre-UP poll clashes in Bagerhat

An elderly man has been killed and 15 others have been injured in clashes between the supporters of two union parishad (UP) member candidates in Mollahat upazila of Bagerhat.

The incident took place at Shashon village under Ward 2 of Chunkhola union on Thursday evening.

The deceased is Asad Sheikh, 65, a resident of the village. He is the uncle of Mamun Sheikh, incumbent Ward 2 member of Chunkhola Union Parishad and also an aspirant of the election.

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Police said supporters of Mamun and Kibria, another UP member candidate, locked in clashes and vandalized houses of the rival group, leaving one dead and 15 others injured.

Additional Superintendent of Police Meer Md Shafin Mahmud said additional law enforcers have been deployed in the area and the condition is under control. 

The injured were sent to different hospitals, he added.

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As part of the first phase election, Chunkhola union parishad was scheduled to go to polls along with 323 union parishads of 63 upazilas in 20 districts across the country on April 11.

But, on April 1, the Election Commission postponed all elections including the first phase of union parishad and sixth phase municipality elections due to the sudden surge in Covid-19 cases.