Vote counting begins in B’desh amid poll violence

The counting of votes cast in the 11th General Elections in Bangladesh, which concluded at 4 pm on Sunday, is now underway in the nation.

The polling began early morning on Sunday, which was marked by heavy violence, claiming as many as 12 lives and injuring 64 others.

The capital city of Dhaka, however, witnessed peaceful voting, while several parts of the nation were engulfed in raging violence during voting.

More than 104 million people were registered to vote in the elections to choose 299 representatives to parliament, known as the Jatiya Sangsad. A total of 1,841 candidates from the Grand Alliance, led by the ruling Awami League (AL) party, and the opposition alliance, led by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP), are competing in the country's 11th general elections.

Around 600,000 security personnel, including soldiers, were deployed across the country in a bid to prevent violence following a bloody campaign.

Police have arrested as many as eight people in connection with the clashes.

A Chhatra League leader was killed by unidentified assailants in the violence in Gazipur. Another leader belonging to the Awami League Party was killed during a tussle between supporters of the ruling party and BNP over the occupation of a polling centre in Rajshahi's Tanore Upazila.

(Featured image : World Bulletin)