10 killed in Bangladesh poll violence

Dhaka: Violence in the 5th phase polls of Bangladesh's lowest tier of local government has left at least 10 persons dead as of Saturday night.

Stray incidents of arson, vandalism, explosion of hand bombs and firing were reported in many of the 720 unions that went to the polls on Saturday, Xinhua reported.

At least four deaths have been reported from northern Jamalpur district.

Four more persons died and hundreds were injured in southeastern Noakhali and Chittagong districts.

Two more deaths have been reported in pre-poll violence in northern Kushtia and Southwestern Narail districts.

Violence also left hundreds of people including officials and law enforcers injured.

Police was not immediately available to confirm the deaths.

Supporters of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina's ruling Bangladesh Awami League party candidates, and rival ex-Prime Minister Khaleda Zia's Bangladesh Nationalist Party candidates clashed in many parts of the country.

The previous phases of the elections were also marred by deadly clashes and irregularities.

Some 82 people have been reportedly killed and several thousands injured in violence over the four previous phases of the partisan local government body polls since March.