Ruling Awami League candidates won 76 percent chairman posts in Monday’s 156 union parishad elections.

At least three people were killed and dozens others injured in clashes between supporters of ruling Awami League’s chairman candidates and party rebels during the final part of the first phase of union parishad polls yesterday.

Information Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud today said Bangladesh needs no assistance from the United Nations (UN) to arrange elections since the Election Commission (EC) is capable enough to hold fair and transparent polls.

Two people were killed in violence during union parishad elections in Maheshkhali and Kutubdia upazilas of Cox’s Bazar today.

Prof Pran Gopal Datta, former vice-chancellor of BSMMU, has been declared elected unopposed in Cumilla-7 by-polls this morning.

Voting began in the union parishad elections of 65 unions in Bagerhat this morning.

Five independent and Awami League-backed candidates of the Union Parishad (UP) polls in Noakhali's Hatia Upazila boycotted the election this morning amid allegations of irregularities and fear of clashes.

In an ominous sign for democracy, the practice of a candidate being elected unopposed has gripped the parliamentary by-polls as well as local body polls.

Former BSMMU VC Pran Gopal Datta is set to be announced the MP from Cumilla-7 by polls as the contenders have withdrawn from the race.

The ruling Awami League has warned its dissidents that the rebel candidates in different elections will not get any post in the party.

Chief Election Commissioner KM Nurul Huda left Dhaka this morning for Russia to observe the Federal Assembly elections to the State Duma (lower house of the Federal Assembly).

BNP Secretary General Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir yesterday said the next general election in the country must be held under a neutral government.

Awami League has nominated Dr Pran Gopal Datta, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), to contest the Comilla-7 by-election.

The by-election to Sylhet-3 constituency was marked by a very low turnout of voters yesterday.

Awami League candidate Habibur Rahman Habib has won the Sylhet-3 by-election held today.

The by-election to Sylhet-3 constituency began this morning.

Election Commission (EC) is planning on collecting information of students from their educational institutes to provide them with National Identity (NID) cards.

The Election Commission (EC) is going to hold more than 4,100 elections by December. Narayanganj City Corporation (NCC) mayoral election, and all district council and union parishad (UP) polls are to be held in this period.

The Election Commission (EC) has decided to hold by-polls to Sylhet-3 constituency on September 4.

The High Court yesterday cleared the way for the Election Commission to resume the process for holding by-election to Sylhet-3 constituency.