The fifth phase of the local government elections at 708 union parishads (UPs) in 48 districts ended on Wednesday (Jan 5).

The polling started 8:00am and continued till 4:00pm.

Meanwhile, incidents of violence, killing, and torching of campaign offices have become widespread, centering on the ongoing UP election.

Additional forces have been deployed to the polling centres and surrounding areas to avoid violent incidents that marred the previous phases of UP polls.

Electronic voting machines (EVMs) were used in 40 UPs while traditional ballot papers in the rest of the UPs, according to the Election Commission (EC).

A total of 3,278 chairman, 25,233 general member and 7,950 reserve member candidates are contesting the local body polls being boycotted by most opposition parties, including Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), as they announced that they would not participate in any election under the current EC.

Some 14,220,195 voters – 7,060,140 males, 6,836,031 females and 21 transgender ones - were expected to exercise their franchise in 708 UPs under 95 upazilas.

Like previous phases, the supporters of different rival candidates got involved in clashes and vandalism in different parts of the country centering on the fifth phase of the elections.

Meanwhile, three people including a woman died in several incidents of poll violence in Chattogram, Manikganj and Gaibandha on Wednesday.

During the fourth-phase UP polls held on December 26, one person was killed and dozens were injured in violence amid allegations of ballot-stuffing and irregularities.

BDST: 1748 HRS, JAN 05, 2022
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