At least seven people have been killed in election violence in Bangladesh, as voters elect village council representatives in polls likely to further entrench the ruling party's authority despite growing worried about the country's democracy.
The major opposition party boycotted Thursday's vote, claiming that a polarized political environment precludes fair participation.
During the last two national elections, what raised widespread misconduct charges and political violence has marred previous elections in Bangladesh, notably those for rural councils.
By late Thursday, it was unclear how many Awami League members had been elected to rural councils.
In a village in central Bangladesh's Narsingdi district, groups used pistols and spears to prevent rival supporters from reaching polling booths, murdering three people, according to Satyajit Kumar Ghosh, a senior police officer.
At least twenty additional people were injured in the mayhem, he added.
Another guy was killed in a battle between competing parties in southern Cox's Bazar, the newspaper Prothom Alo said. Six additional people were hurt in the neighborhood, the newspaper reported.
According to the Daily Star newspaper, two persons were slain in the eastern district of Cumilla and another in the southeastern district of Chattogram, amid widespread unrest.
The Chief Election Commissioner, KM Nurul Huda, had cautioned about election violence before Thursday's vote and stated security measures were being implemented to deal with any events.
At least nine people were killed and hundreds injured in campaign violence ahead of this month's vote.
Since January, 85 people have been killed and over 6,000 injured in Bangladesh election-related violence, according to Ain-o-Salish Kendra, a Dhaka-based human rights organization.
Over 15 million eligible voters chose members for 835 councils on Thursday after several were suspended due to irregularities or violence.
A total of 4,571 councils, dubbed union parishads, are being fought in phases. They are responsible for local community development and public welfare.
Elections for 204 councils were held in the first phase in June, with 148 candidates from the ruling party winning and the remainder being won by independents.
According to analysts, Thursday's election provides an opportunity for Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Awami League party to solidify its position ahead of the next national election set for 2023.
Her party swept to victory in the last two general elections, in 2014 and 2018, both of which were marred by charges of vote cheating and manipulation.
Between 1991, when Bangladesh reverted to a democratic government, through the 2008 election, Hasina and her archrival, former Prime Minister Khaleda Zia of the main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party, controlled the country alternately.
Hasina's landslide victory in 2008 was the most recent free and fair national election. Zia's party has since boycotted several elections.
